British tennis has a bright future with new LTA junior champions
It is a tournament that has been won by Andy Murray, Jack Draper and Heather Watson and now news names have been added to the roll of honour at the LTA Junior National Championships.
Isabelle Lacy and Luca Pow were the winners of this year’s 18 and under competition, with both players securing wild cards into Wimbledon qualifying as a result of their success.
Tennis365 was present for the finals at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, with Lacy’s win against Surrey’s Hannah Klugman in the Girls’ final highlighting the quality of the next generation of players coming through the British ranks.
Klugman won the 16 and under event a week before and was favourite to take the title against Lacy, even though the Surrey player is only 14.
In a contest that swung wildly after Klugman held the advantage when it was played outdoors and then Lacy found a way to win after rain forced a move to indoor courts, as she won 6-3 6-3 6-3.
“It was very different dynamics when we went indoors,” said 16-year-old Lacy, who trains at the National Tennis Centre and is supported by the LTA’s Men’s and Women’s programme.
“She was serving really well outside and had more time on her shots, but I had a chance to talk to my coach and managed to change it in my favour. I served a lot better inside and managed to turn it around.
“I wasn’t thinking about the Wimbledon wild card during the match, but that is just my biggest dream. It’s going to be so exciting. I’m so happy.”
Former British No.1 and LTA Women’s National Coach Katie O’Brien was impressed with the quality of tennis on display in the tournament, as she suggested both Lacy and Klugman have bright futures.
“There was a lot of drama in the final, swinging one way and then the other,” said O’Brien, who won the LTA Junior National Championships in 2003.
“They know each other so well and train together regularly, so this was always going to be an interesting match-up.
“For them to show so much quality on the court when there was so much at stake was very impressive and I’m sure both Isabelle and Hannah will have great futures in the game.”
The Boys’ Final was played on the outdoor courts at the National Tennis Centre, with Pow defending the title he won a year ago with a gritty performance against 16-year-old Bonding.
Pow trains at the LTA’s National Academy in Loughborough, where he benefits from a high-intensity daily training environment with world-class science and medicine support, working in partnership with a local school, to help them successfully develop into emerging tour professionals.
The 18-year-old will now have a second crack at qualifying for Wimbledon and hopes his experience from a year ago will stand him in good stead.
“Hopefully I can be a little less nervous when I play Wimbledon qualifying this time,” said Pow. “I feel really happy to have another opportunity.
“This was the first time I played Olly in a competitive match so we were both going into it a little blind. We used to practice together, but you never know how it’s going to turn out until you play a match.
“It was tricky conditions. It was so cold and you have to deal with the elements when you are playing outdoors, but it feels great to win this tournament again.”
Martin Weston, National Coach to the LTA Men’s Team, saluted the quality of tennis on display in the Boys’ Final, as he backed Pow and Bonding to enjoy successful careers in the game.
“This was a really good quality match,” said Weston. “The boys had to adjust to tricky conditions and that is the best I have seen Luca Pow play since he won this event last year.
“When you consider what is at stake with the Wimbledon qualifying wild card and the title that is on the line, Luca’s achievement is impressive.
“Olly will be disappointed after also losing the 16U Final last week, but this has been a very impressive two weeks from him and he will have more chances to win the 18U title.”