Winner Olivia loses out on SW19 game (From Echo)

Winner Olivia loses out on SW19 game

8:00pm Thursday 5th July 2012 in Tennis

BASILDON teenager Olivia Sofroniou has won the Essex round of the HSBC Road to Wimbledon tournament — but she will not get the chance to play at SW19.

With the Olympic Games tennis events being hosted at the All England Club, the Road to Wimbledon finals are being held at the Bank of England Ground.

The courts in Roehampton are used for the Wimbledon qualifying events and will play host to the national finals of the tournament between August 13 and 18.

Sofroniou, who lives in Steeple View and goes to Southend High School for Girls, defeated Christina Coyle (Virgin Active, Clearview) 4-2 4-2 in a great final at Redbridge Sports Centre.

But the Cranston Park player will not be joined by Westcliff Hardcourt’s Andrew Berry.

He won the first set 6-4 but was forced to retire during his match with James Caddies (Virgin Active, Clearview) with a groin injury while trailing 5-2 in the second set.

The competitors represented 20 clubs from across the county and were either their club’s under-14 champion or runner-up.

The Essex event was organised by Westcliff couple Lesley and Ian Pitt.