Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Davis goes one better at Wimbledon
TENNIS
Tennis prodigy James Davis will never be daunted by playing in front of packed crowds at Wimbledon – having already claimed two titles on the hallowed turf. The 14-year-old joined former British No.1 Tim Henman in south west London on Saturday for the HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14-andunder Challenge Finals. Davis, a product of Canterbury’s Appeti Academy, grabbed his chance to shine, winning the boys’ singles crown with a 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Northamptonshire’s Joe Tyler. Lifting the trophy was especially sweet for Davis, a losing finalist in the 2012 event. He said: “I had to fight hard but I was able to come through with some good tennis at the end. “I knew I could win it but I knew I had to win against some good players. Joe played well in the first set and I was a bit nervous before the game but managed to settle into it. “The HSBC Road to Wimbledon is a big tournament and there was a lot at stake but I was able to be persistent in the second set and dictate with my big serve.Winning this tournament will give me a lot more self-belief. “I want to go all the way and play professionally so I need to work hard, commit and give everything I’ve got.” Davis also took home the boys’ doubles title with Matthew Summers of Maidstone, beating Tyler and Dominic West 4-6, 7-6 and then 10-8 in a thrilling tie-break. The HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14-and-under Challenge is the UK’s largest national junior grass court tournament and forms part of HSBC’s investment in the stars of the future.
Appeti Tennis Academy youngster Joseph Richards has won the nine-and-under section of the Alan Thompson Cup at the Parklangley Club in Beckenham. In the box round, both Richards and William Gee topped their groups to qualify for the quarterfinals. The pair then met in the last four with Richards coming through 3-7, 7-5, 9-7. Richards met Matthew Pickering in the final and triumphed 7-5, 7-4.