A HAMPSHIRE youngster has taken the first step towards a possible appearance on the hallowed turf of Wimbledon.

Eleven-year-old James Chaudry from North Baddesley triumphed against players up to three years his senior in the under-14 closed championships at the Abbey Tennis and Squash Club, Romsey.

Now Chaudry will be among the favourites when he takes part in the county finals to decide Hampshire's representative at the national finals - played on the championship grass courts at Wimbledon between August 19-24.

Abbey club chairman Reece Houghton said: "James is a very, very good player and I hope that one day we will be seeing him at Wimbledon proper.

"He is one of the best in the country for his age and was the youngest competitor in the tournament. He is very good for the tennis club and it was an excellent tournament."

The event, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association and sponsored by the All England Club, is being held for the first time this year.

Chaudry, a North Baddesley Junior School pupil, is considered one of the brightest prospects in Hampshire.

He is coached by Southampton's former Davis Cup player and British number one Chris Wilkinson at the David Lloyd Leisure tennis centre and is currently rated in the top six in the country for his age.

He is in the National Futures squad and has recently returned from a week in Barcelona, training on clay courts with top Spanish players.

The girls' event on Sunday was won by Southampton's Rema Hilmi, who also now progresses to the regional stages of the tournament.

More than 10,000 junior tennis players from 600 clubs throughout the UK are taking part in the National Road To Wimbledon Challenge. Tim Phillips, chairman of the All England Club, said: "We want youngsters to play tennis and we want them to stay in tennis.

"By putting on this event, we hope that the lure of playing at Wimbledon will act both as a spur to the country's young tennis players and set an example to other clubs to encourage junior tennis and support the LTA Club Vision programme."

Road to Wimbledon Tournament Director and former British Davis Cup captain Paul Hutchins added: "It will be inspirational for the juniors to have won through to play on the hallowed grass courts at Wimbledon and to play for the prizes of going to La Manga in Spain for a week's clay court coaching.

"This event points the way forward for clubs to really back junior tennis and is all part of creating a good competitive structure at club level."

The singles winners and runners up at the Wimbledon finals will each receive a week of clay court coaching at the LTA's winter training base at La Manga Club in Spain.