2:56pm Thursday 20th August 2009
Oxford junior Lucy Brown got her 16 & under AEGON junior national championships campaign off to a winning start when she beat Roisin Mullins, of Derby, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round.
The third seed, who trains at the Bisham Abbey High Performance Centre in Bucks, was made to work hard against the qualifier under the blazing sun at the West Hants club in Bournemouth "I feel like I played a really good match,” said 15-year-old Brown.
“I felt really nervous before I went on court, but the nerves seemed to disappear once we got into the match.
“The first set was quite close and really tough. I was quite annoyed I went 3-0 down in the second set, but I'm pleased I managed to bring it back.
"It's been pretty hot here, but I don't mind the hot and sunny conditions.
“I always seem to play better in these conditions,” said Brown, who was preparing to face another qualifier, Safi-yaah Azeez from Wales, in the second round.
More than 400 of the best boys and girls in the country compete across qualifying and main draws for the championships, which has been running for 101 years, Meanwhile, Wantage’s Seb-astian Rey progressed through to the last 32 in the national fnals of the HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14 and Under Challenge.
Rey, 14, claimed victories in all three of his group matches at Wimbledon, beating Cambridgeshire’s Christopher Kindred 7-6, 6-4, Bedfordshire’s Harry Mabbitt 6-4, 6-2 and South Scotland’s Allan McClure 6-1, 6-3 On the girls side, Botley’s Sophie Marriott will contest the round of 32 after winning two of her matches and finishing second in her group.
The 14-year old claimed victories against Lincolnshire’s Madeline Verdegaal 6-1, 6-0 and Hampshire’s Emily Kerr 6-3, 6-4.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/trade_directory/