Team Bath Tennis player Alicia Barnett and women’s doubles partner Olivia Nicholls began their grass-court season by reaching the final of the Lexus Surbiton Trophy.
The duo, ranked number three for the tournament, were in fine form throughout the week as they eased through the knockout rounds without dropping a set.
A 6-1 7-6(4) victory over fellow Brits Harriet Dart and Heather Watson was followed up with a well-earned 7-6(3) 7-5 success against Quinn Gleason of the United States and France’s Elixane Lechemia.
Barnett, coached by Ian MacDonald at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, and Nicholls sealed a place in their second final of the year with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of Britain’s Emily Appleton and Germany’s Julia Lohoff.
Number four seeds Sophie Chang, of the US, and Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer awaited in the trophy decider and it proved to be a close first set, going with serve until the tenth game when a decisive break saw Barnett and Nicholls go behind for the first time all week.
The second set then got away from them as Chang and Wickmayer – who completed a title double by winning the women’s singles – wrapped up a 6-4 6-1 victory.
Barnett and Nicholls now move to the Nottingham Tennis Centre where their Wimbledon preparations continue with the Rothesay Open, the duo facing Appleton and Jodie Burrage in the first round.
Liam Broady, who is coached by Team Bath Tennis coach David Sammel, is also competing in Nottingham having won his first-ever ATP Challenger Tour doubles title at Surbiton by teaming up with Jonny O’Mara to beat Alexei Popyrin and Aleksandar Vukic 6-4 5-7 10-8 in the men’s doubles final.
Want to make the most of the sunshine and get out on court? The outdoor tennis courts at Team Bath are available for public hire – visit teambath.com/book-a-court to find out more.
With thanks to Team Bath
