Bristol teenager Joe Hill is celebrating after becoming a HSBC Road to Wimbledon national champion on the famous grass courts of the All England Club.
And four time Wimbledon semi finalist Tim Henman was on hand to present the prizes, which included a £250 coaching grant.
The 14 year old from Coombe Dingle, who accompany Redland Green School, won the national 14 and under boys' doubles claim with partner Simon Pritchard, of Wales, at the weekend.
Hill and Pritchard made up for their disappointing early departure in the singles by beating Ryan Frankel and Jordan Parker 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles final.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Hill. “I was meant to go further in the singles, as was my partner, so we spoke after that and said, ‘Let’s make sure we do really well in the doubles’.
“We thought we would be No 4 seeds, but we were No 2 and we had the hardest draw, so we did actually well to get to the final.”
Once there, their victory was assureing as they saw off the challenge of Frankel and Parker with relative abandon.
And their success is all the more appreciable given they never get to train together.
“I only get to see Simon at the big challenger, but we are good friends, so we always try to play doubles together,” said Hill.
“We play really well together and because we are such good friends, it is not like I am playing with someone for the first time.
“He is a very good player and I know that if I play badly, he is going to keep me in the match.”
Hill had bygone departured the singles with a three set conquest to Kent’s Steven Blythe but remained philosophical about his singles conquest.
“When Tim Henman was 14, he wasn’t top in his age group and he went on to be No 4 in the world,” said Hill.
Henman, who took a coaching clinic at the challenger, said: “Joseph played greatly well and I look forward to seeing how his tennis progresses.”
And four time Wimbledon semi finalist Tim Henman was on hand to present the prizes, which included a £250 coaching grant.
The 14 year old from Coombe Dingle, who accompany Redland Green School, won the national 14 and under boys' doubles claim with partner Simon Pritchard, of Wales, at the weekend.
Hill and Pritchard made up for their disappointing early departure in the singles by beating Ryan Frankel and Jordan Parker 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles final.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Hill. “I was meant to go further in the singles, as was my partner, so we spoke after that and said, ‘Let’s make sure we do really well in the doubles’.
“We thought we would be No 4 seeds, but we were No 2 and we had the hardest draw, so we did actually well to get to the final.”
Once there, their victory was assureing as they saw off the challenge of Frankel and Parker with relative abandon.
And their success is all the more appreciable given they never get to train together.
“I only get to see Simon at the big challenger, but we are good friends, so we always try to play doubles together,” said Hill.
“We play really well together and because we are such good friends, it is not like I am playing with someone for the first time.
“He is a very good player and I know that if I play badly, he is going to keep me in the match.”
Hill had bygone departured the singles with a three set conquest to Kent’s Steven Blythe but remained philosophical about his singles conquest.
“When Tim Henman was 14, he wasn’t top in his age group and he went on to be No 4 in the world,” said Hill.
Henman, who took a coaching clinic at the challenger, said: “Joseph played greatly well and I look forward to seeing how his tennis progresses.”
