TOTALLY Tennis performance players made good use of the Easter holidays to compete in the first-ever David Fuch Easter Open held at the Aldershot Tennis Centre.

Tournament 1 player Ben Jubin had a comfortable victory in his first-round match in the under-14 boys' event, and then defeated Aled Loynes in his second match to book a semi-final place.

Jubin beat higher-seeded player Hassan Morad after a close-fought game to proceed to the final where he faced Harry Gilbert, who proved the stronger player and took the title 6-2, 6-1.

Other under-14 boys taking part were Jack Nicholson, Joe Cox, Elliot Gibson and Luke Miles. Miles also made it to the semi-finals after defeating Harry Newdick in the second round.

He was then defeated in a close three-set match, by eventual winner Gilbert.

Cox had an impressive first-round win, but then lost out in a close match to Cameroon Alexander. Nicholson and Gibson both went out in the first round. Nicholson was beaten by Daniel Burden and Gibson was narrowly defeated in a final-set tie-break by Newdick.

In the under-16 boys' event, Matthew Church had an easy first-round match but his next match proved a lot tougher.

Church finally came through to win the match 7-6, 6-4 against younger player Ben Brading. In an all-Totally Tennis quarter-final, he was defeated by club-mate Harry Stow, who proceeded to the semi-finals where he, in turn, lost to number one seed Michael Johnson 6-2, 6-1.

James Stewart, after a comfortable first-round win, went out to a higher-seeded player in round two.

The younger of the Church brothers, Liam, competed at under-12, but was overcome in a close round-one match against higher-rated player Daniel Shaw.

The Totally Tennis girls were also in action, with Olivia Snow claiming a comfortable win in her first-round match in the under-12 event. She was defeated by third seed Lauren Hill in the second round.

In the under-14 event Amy Paterson beat team-mate Snow, but then lost out to a higher-rated player in her second-round match.

Cox, Nicholson, Paterson and Liam Church all then played in their plate events.

Church just lost to Surrey's Robert Piatkowski, who was then defeated by Cox.

Cox was himself defeated by a higher-seeded player in the next round.

Nicholson had a few promising wins on his way to the quarter-finals, where he lost out to the number one seed. Paterson made an early exit after a close game.

Totally Tennis head coach Shane Deacon said: "It is great to see so many of our performance players participating and doing well in the first-ever Aldershot Easter open.

"Part of our tournament squad programme is to encourage players to enter as many tournaments as possible to gain valuable competitive experience."

First published: Tuesday, April 18, 2006