Tennis Europe U16 Tour: Umeå International Junior Indoor Open, Umea, Sweden.

An early start and another hour in a plane north of Stockholm (after almost missing our connection) we arrived on the Arctic circle at Umea in good spirits. To the hotel which had live Sport benefits and an easy walk to the Tennis Club. Result.

In the end the qualifying draw did not happen so Freddie went into Main Draw alongside Dan (seeded #1) and Will (#5). This gave the boys 2 days to adjust and prepare. Practise Saturday and Sunday.

Round 1 saw Dan and Will get byes as seeded players. Freddie went down 64 61 to Noren (Swe) and into the consolation draw, which he went on to win by beating Tsirkun (Est) 62 64; Gulsturf (Den) 61 62 and Lusta (Est) 61 61. So great experience for him of seeing the level and playing some very good tennis along the way.

Round 2 in the Main Draw and William comfortably disposed of Larsen (Den) 60 62 with Dan taking a little more time to come through 63 36 64 against Largo from Spain.

Will’s next match was against local wild card Rasmussen. Rasmussen was decent and proved too strong for Will this time winning 60 63. Dan won another 3 setter, this time without playing his best, against Kauppila from Finland 64 36 61, to put him in the Semi.

Dan had to face Rasmussen who had beaten Will.  After getting to set point more than once Dan lost the breaker 8-6 in the 1st, he then recovered to win the 2nd 75. He came back from 52 down to eventually lose out 64 in the deciding set.

In the Doubles Will and Freddie teamed up and easily put away Largo (Esp) and Chris Reynolds (GB) 61 60; then Rudenco (Mol) and Van Riesen (Ger) 61 64.

Dan joined up with eventual singles winner Durasovic from Norway. After a 1st round bye they beat Larsen & Larsen 64 62 and then after walkover in the Semi also found themselves in the final.

So all three boys made a final on their 1st u16 Euro tour event. A good return.

A really close final saw Dan and Viktor take the 1st 6-4. Will and Freddie took the next 6-3 and went on to take the champions tie break 10-3 to claim the win.

Craig