Oxfordshire's top juniors found the going tough in this week’s National Championships.

Alexis Canter was the leading hope in the under 16 event at the Nottingham Tennis Centre, where he was the No 3 seed.

After getting a first-round bye, Canter then recorded a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 win over Miles McDowall.

However, he then lost his last 16 clash 6-4, 6-2 to Sussex’s Daniel Little, who went on to make today’s final.

Tom Dyakowski (under 18s) and Harrison Ridge (under 14s) both suffered first round defeats in their competitions.

In the 12 and under event, held at Bournemouth’s West Hants Club, Ned Batstone, Ben Charlesworth, Connor Ferguson and Louis Manson all lost in the last 64.

Chloe Elliott won her nine and under qualifying group to reach the main draw, where she lost in the last eight.

l JOHN Spratt is still going strong in the Men’s Over 65 event at the British Senior Championships at the All England Club, Wimbledon.

Spratt has made it through to the last four, where he will face Nigel Barker.

Injury denied Jon Merrifield in the Men’s Over 55 event. Merrifield was leading eighth seed Arun Vetha-kkan 3-6, 6-3, 6-5 before being forced to retire.

In the Men’s 45 event, Chris Manson (North Oxford) lost 6-4, 6-7(6-8), 7-5 to Chris Oldham in the last 32.

Woodstock’s Matthew White reached the last 16, before he lost 6-1, 6-0 to third seed Paul Scullard.

Meanwhile, Virgin Active defeated Woodstock 4-0 in Mixed Division 1 of the Wilson OLTA League to stay one point clear of North Oxford at the top with one match to go.