As the 10is Academy team, 9 and Under (Div 2) learned on Saturday, a perfect opening day atmosphere doesn’t automatically ensure a perfect opening day game.
It was a day fit for tennis: Clear, sunny, comfortable and beautiful.
Families from 10is Academy and Cambridge socially distanced watched their kids compete.
By the end of the first round of matches, 10is academy was 3 matches to 1 down, in what would eventually be an opening-day loss, 1-9, to the Cambridge Academy. Samuel Goodger winning the only match for 10is Academy.
“Experience won the day,” said Sebastien Scaux, 10is Academy’s head coach. “I thought our players played well but lacked experience. 3 out of 4 of our players never played any official matches before. Cambridge Academy played better than we did, they were solid.”
At 3pm, the 12 and Under boys (Div 1) welcomed Peterborough city. Alex Shackleton, 10is Academy’s number 1 player, lost the opening match in a thrilling match.
Alex took the first set 7-5 but his opponent recovered to take the match to a decider, the Peterborough player held his nerve to clinch the third set 11-9 having saved 2 match points in what was the longest match of the league so far at 2 hours and 26 minutes.
“What a match! It is going to hurt to have lost this one but Alex is a fighter and today’s defeat will make him stronger.” Said Sebastien. “I am really proud of Alex’s grit and desire to fight for every point”.
Cassius Pennington and Jeremy Harvey had less resistance winning respectively their matches 7/6 (10-8) 6/1 and 6/1 6/4
Alexander Wallart joined Jeremy Harvey in the doubles match knowing victory was already secured. Not entirely focused they lost their match 6/2 7/5. Final score: 8-4
It was a solid performance from the boys but there’s still a lot of work to be done to reach full potential.
The 12 and under boys will next be in action on Sunday 16 May while the 9 and Under Mixed will play the following Sunday. Before that, the men’s team will be on court this coming Sunday at Cambridge.
Press release from 10is Academy
Above photos: 10U Mixed vs Cambridge
Above photos: 12U boys vs Peterborough
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