The National Championships for younger age groups, including under 11s this year, get under way tomorrow. The format is round robin groups with the first 2 in each going through to the last 16 knock-out. Under 11s and under 12s start with live scoring available here In the under 12s two of our European Summer Cup team are allocated to the same group - Sevil Parviz and Megan Knight. Denzell Darkey is top seed in the boys under 12. Oliver Westbrook and Yanziye Zhang are the top seeds in the under11s. Full draws are here (under 14s not yet available as they only start on Tuesday).
Live 'steam' is promised as well, which probably won't be appreciated on court
The under 12s and under 11s should reach the knock-out stage once this evenings matches have concluded. Meanwhile the under 14 draws have been done. In the boys Mark Ceban and Liam Channon are the top two seeds, while Arabella Loftus, Hollie Smart and Sophie Bekker are the highest seeds in the girls. Note also group H which features Isabelle Britton and Shamiso Ndoro, both mentioned a few times in this section.
The under 12s and under 11s should reach the knock-out stage once this evenings matches have concluded. Meanwhile the under 14 draws have been done. In the boys Mark Ceban and Liam Channon are the top two seeds, while Arabella Loftus, Hollie Smart and Sophie Bekker are the highest seeds in the girls. Note also group H which features Isabelle Britton and Shamiso Ndoro, both mentioned a few times in this section.
Along with Tegan Bush, one to watch, as well as Alice Wilson-Marsh, who's in the same group as Arabella Loftus.
The under 14s are through to the knock-out stage. Hollie lost to Teodora Prisadnikova, but went through in second place. Similarly Sophie lost to Leticia Romanova so finished second in her group. All the under 14s mentioned above made the knock-out stage while they are currently playing quarter-finals of the under 11s / under 12s
I don't really know any of these names at the lower end
But, in the U11s, I assume Leon Bekker is Sophie Bekker's younger brother?
And in the U12s, that was a very heavy loss for the top seed in the boys, Denzel Darkey - who lost 2 & 0 to Aran SELVARAASAN
Yes, Leon Bekker is Sophie's brother.
Sophie, Tegan Bush, Arabella Loftus and Isabella Walker - all great players - are in the top half of the drawer. Sorry to see Isabelle Britton out too.
U11 Boys: Samuel De Lange v Leon Bekker
U11 Girls: Yanziye Zhang v Ingrid Dumitru
U12 Boys: Aran Selvaarasan v Niall Pickerd-Barua
U12 Girls: Sevil Parviz v Megan Knight (a rematch of their group match, which Sevil won)
First time I've got to log on to this, this week, and lovely to see.....
U11 Boys: Samuel De Lange def. Leon Bekker 3-6 6-4 6-4
Congrats to both (and Sam especially, of course)
Very tight match, emotions running high, particularly with Bekker
Sam de L is a scuttler, no real power in his game, and a pushy serve, but is nimble, good defence, makes few errors (but doesn't just moonball it), uses angles well....
Leon plays a more aggressive game, with good intent on his forehand and a bit more power overall but obviously a few more errors and gets very wound up
A far more even match in terms of styles of play - both players played with some power, and placement - Niall played a few excellent net points, Aran was smart, playing behind his opponent to great effect - there was precious little in the last set
Sevil v Megan is a very good match - lots of deep balls, with good acceleration, from both - Megan the slightly more aggressive player, but not much in it
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 15th of December 2022 10:38:48 PM
My goodness, what a cracking match young Megan played
Especially as she'd been beaten by Sevil in the group stages, and generally all the other times they've played (8 matches, 7 wins for Parviz, I think I heard)
And, from what the commentators say, Megan is a year young, playing up....which is even more impressive
And as you say, tharris - with real style too - lots of attack, super technique (well done Matt Lowe, her coach at Culford School (again, if I hear right), a real intensity to all her strokes, and her game plays
And I think she's the daughter of Nick Knight, the cricketer.....good sporty genes....
Megan wins, 6-2 6-1, and that's most definitely a name I'll be following from now on