HUDDERSFIELD’S Sellers International tennis tournament is still basking in the after-glow of Andy Murray’s win at Wimbledon.
Record numbers competed in the opening 9 and Under sections, the main men’s draw got under way last night and, this evening, it’s the men’s doubles.
Competing today in the 18 and Under sections are Huddersfield club trio Euan Wilson-Baig, Ciaran Wilson-Baig and Elliott Walker along with Thongsbridge prospect Bradley Whitwam.
Huddersfield’s Emily Morton and Thongsbridge’s No1 seed Kim Atkinson are in the Girls 18s, and Edgerton Senior Performance Coach Becky Lee says Murray’s win has given everyone a massive lift.
“We are all absolutely over the moon that Andy Murray has won Wimbledon and it has to be great for British tennis,” she said.
“I was very emotional when he beat Novak Djokovic because I just wanted him to win the title so much – my mum’s side of the family are all Scottish – and a win like that shows that anyone can achieve anything if they really put their mind to it.
“A young lad from Dunblane has worked his socks off to achieve what he set out to do and now he’s been crowned Wimbledon champion – fantastic!”
She added: “I thought what Laura Robson did in making the second week was tremendous and, while Andy will now be hoping to become World No1, there’s no reason why Laura shouldn’t set her sights on becoming Wimbledon champion.
“That’s what we want now. Having got a men’s singles champion we now want a British woman to win Wimbledon again.
“It’s a shame she didn’t play well in the match she lost, because it was a great opportunity for her to go further this year.
“She is up to 27th in the world, though, and that’s a fantastic achievement as well at 19 years of age.
“What they’ve done at Wimbledon, particularly Andy winning, has given the whole sport a fantastic lift.”
Samuel Reeve from Stockport won the 9 and Under boys at the Sellers, beating Thomas Allam (Bolton) 7-3 6-8 7-4 in the final.
Hannah Dumican of Robin Park won the girls section, beating qualifier Eva Shaw (Wolverhampton) 10-8 7-2.
In the 10 and Under qualifying, Phoebe Suthers (Huddersfield) won her group and progresses to the main draw on Friday.
The 14 and Under boys got under way yesterday with Euan Wilson-Baig, Callum Firth, Harry Boothby and Joe Johnson involved.
In the girls section, Katie Morton and Stephanie Carter (Huddersfield and Thongsbridge) were carrying local hopes.
Playing in the main men’s draw is former Huddersfield Town striker Alan Lee, 34, a keen tennis player all his life and of county standard when he was a student at the famous Blackrock College in Dublin (see pages 38 & 39).
