Seated comfortably in their Wimbledon seats during the first week of the tournament, three members of the club’s mixed vets were able to enjoy the experience of top class tennis knowing their team had picked up its first points.
The mixed squad has found its foray into the mystery that was Tennis Sussex leagues an uphill learning experience. The rain-delayed replay against Howard was eventually finished after switching weeks later to their grass courts at Littlehampton where, despite the improving form of Luke McEwen and Priscilla Pendle and James Course and Gilly Perrin, we ended 0-4 losers.
Another long break followed but the scoreline was the same against an unstoppable team from local rivals, Chichester on our courts. Our pairings of James and Gilly and David Holmes and Nikki Holden (pictured) savoured every snatched point, deuce and game against well-drilled and more tactically aware opponents. We were beaten but not bowed by the experience.
And so to week one at SW19 when three of our Wimbledon ticket winners took their seats to perhaps pick up some tips about competing in West Sussex with an upcoming home fixture against Saltdean.
However, before Murray and Sharapova had had time to hit a ball in anger the news came through that Saltdean had conceded the match because they were unable to raise a team. An all-white 4 points for the mixed vets.
We end our season of contrasts with two away games against Middleton (10th July) and Angmering (12th August).
