SERENA Williams and Novak Djokovic were not the only tennis aces slugging it our for glory at the weekend.
While the pair secured Wimbledon success, Rayleigh youngsters competed on court for their own trophies.
The finals day of the Rayleigh Junior School Tennis Tournament took place at Rayleigh Tennis Club as the culmination of a two-week event featuring seven schools in the town.
The Year 3 and Year 4 girls’ semi-finals and finals took place on Saturday, with the boys playing on Sunday.
Year 3 – winner Quinn Williams
Each match was played in a tie-break format, with the winner being the first to seven points.
Ruby Masheda beat Keira Peake 7-4 in the Year 3 girls’ final, while Naomi Sheffield showed her potential with a 7-1 win over Lily-Beth Ball in the Year 4 final.
Caleb White was the only boy to reach a semi-final who does not play at a tennis club, but in the final Quinn Williams became Glebe’s first winner in the five-year history of the event by beating Ben Hoskins.
All four boys’ Year 4 semi-finalists play at Rayleigh Lawn and the final saw Diwij Saigal take a 5-4 lead, only to lose 7-5 to Luke Byron.
Year 3 – runner-up Ben Hoskins
The schools participating were Grove Wood, Edward Francis, Glebe, Rayleigh Primary, Our Lady of Ransom, Downhall and Wyburns, and all had at least one pupil reach the semi-finals.
More than 900 pupils entered the competition and Rayleigh head coach Ryan Wilson said: “We have had fantastic feedback and hopefully next year’s tournament will be just as good.”
Year 4 – winner Naomi Sheffield (left) and runner-up Lilly-Beth Ball
Girls’ Year 3: Winner: Ruby Masheda (Downhall). Runner-up: Keira Peake (Glebe). Semi-finalist: Skye Peters (Grovewood). Semi-finalist: Megan Allen (Wyburns).
Girls’ Year 4: Winner: Naomi Sheffield (Grovewood). Runner-up: Lil-Beth Ball (Rayleigh Primary). Semi-finalist: Chanice Bamdadin (Our Lady of Ransom). Semi-finalist: Emma McGurn (Our Lady of Ransom).
Boys’ Year 3: Winner: Quinn Williams (Glebe). Runner-up: Ben Hoskins (Grovewood). Semi-finalist: Caleb White (Edward Francis). Semi-finalist: Joseph McGhee (Our Lady of Ransom).
Year 4 – winner Luke Byron (right) with runner-up Diwij Saigal
Boys’ Year 4: Winner: Luke Byron (Grovewood). Runner-up: Diwij Saigal (Grovewood). Semi-finalist: Sid Franklin (Edward Francis). Semi-finalist: Isaac Pearson (Our Lady of Ransom).
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