Rising stars live up to the pressure of No 1 seeding
DAHNON Ward and Abbie Breakwell lived up to their top seedings as wheelchair tennis returned to Loughborough University Tennis Centre over the weekend, with Ward winning the men’s singles title and Breakwell securing another local victory in the women’s single at the first LTA Wheelchair National Series event of 2021.
With both Ward and Breakwell having contested last month’s Loughborough Indoor international tournament, the return of this weekend’s fixture on the domestic calendar after the recent easing of national lockdown restrictions saw 23 players contest 43 matches over the two days of competition.
Fifteen-year-old Ward dropped just two games on his way to the men’s singles final and beat Mark Langeveld 6-0, 6-0 in the all-East Midlands title decider.
Langeveld’s progress to the singles final came at the expense of multiple quad singles national champion James Shaw, who challenged players in the men’s open division before resuming his quest to earn qualification for the Tokyo Paralympics.
And while Langeveld edged his semi-final against Shaw 6-2, 2-6 (10-8), it was a different story in the men’s doubles final as Shaw and Ward eased a 6-0, 6-1 win over Langeveld and Gary Cox.
“From my perspective it was great to see all the players competing again in a nice friendly atmosphere and we’re looking forward to a bigger and better event next year,” said tournament director Martyn Whait, National Coach on the LTA’s Wheelchair
Performance Pathway and coach of the Loughborough-based squad of players.
“It’s been really good to see a lot of our junior players stepping up to the senior ranks and it’s only two years ago that I remember Dahnon being quite upset after losing to Mark Langeveld at the British Futures tournament in the summer. So, for him to now beat Mark 6-0, 6-0 shows how much our young players are progressing.”
After bowing out of last month’s Loughborough Indoor women’s singles in a first round meeting with American world No.10 Dana Mathewson, Breakwell ended March by turning 18, meaning that this is her last season as a junior.
And while quarantine rules mean the Loughborough College student is unable to compete in Turkey this month, the chance to compete on home soil was ideal.
“Any opportunity to play competitively at the moment is a gift because there haven’t been too many of those in the last year,” said Breakwell, who beat Martha Harris 6-0, 6-1 and second seed Ruby Bishop 6-3, 6-1 to clinch victory in the women’s singles.
“I went into this weekend wanting to put into practice what I’d been working on with Martyn and I’ve achieved the goals I’d set myself. I’m in that phase of my development where it’s about gaining experience as much as winning, as I’ve only bee playing for five years.
“There are very different pressures playing the National Series this weekend and the ITF 2 event last month. I was the underdog last month and this weekend I was top seed and it’s about learning how to play when you’re in those different positions,” added Breakwell, who partnered Debbie Reynolds to finish runners-up to Bishop and Harris in the women’s doubles.
Meanwhile with Breakwell still hoping to be able to play in Turkey next month, more chances to play locally are imminent.
“Starting later this month they’ll be playing team matches in the non-disabled leagues for Loughborough Lawn Tennis Club, so we’ll have James Shaw, Dahnon Ward, Joshua Johns and Abbie all integrated into the competition,” said Whait.
“It shows how easy it is to integrate wheelchair tennis and how inclusive Loughborough Tennis Club is, so anyone interested in membership or coaching, please get in touch.”
THE Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League gets underway this weekend with Rothley Park looking to defend the Premier Division title the team won in 2019 for the first time in the club’s history.
They open their campaign with a home game against Langtons.
Other clashes involving local sides will see Loughborough Town play host to Sileby Town, Cropston entertain 2019 runners-up Barrow Town, Kegworth Town at home to Syston Town while Newtown Linford mark their return to the top flight with a trip to face Oakham.
In Division One, Loughborough Town 2nd XI will travel to face Ashby Hastings while Loughborough Carillon will play host to Uppingham Town.
In Division Two, Shepshed will entertain Barwell and Sileby Town 2nd XI will be at home against Billesdon.
For a full list of fixtures in all of the leagues visit www. landrcl.net