GB Singles and Doubles titles for Felicity Thomas
East Glos tennis member Felicity Thomas has won both the singles and doubles in the British Indoors Championships (Super Seniors Over 75’s) held last week.
2015 had been a disappointing year for her through injury and illness, ending the year with a world ranking of 35. As a result she was seeded three but beat the two higher seeds, losing just six games. With Ruth Weston (Surrey and Scotland) they won the doubles convincingly. Felicity is delighted with her successes and especially with her return to fitness.
These Championships are open and graded 1 by the ITF. Felicity now stands at number 14 in the singles world rankings and six in doubles. Unfortunately, there were fewer overseas entries in some of the events – perhaps because of a reluctance to travel especially at this time of the year, together with safety concerns, cost, etc.
Fellow Gloucestershire player and former East Glos coach Lorraine Ristic lost a very close match in the over 50s. Former East Glos member Graeme Adams won the Over 55s. Whilst still at school, he and Felicity were county and club mixed champions.
Felicity plays a grade 2 tournament in Paris later this month and another grade 2 in Normandy in April. In May she goes to the Adriatic Championships in Italy, which is now a higher Grade A competition. After Italy she goes to Bournemouth for the British Clay Courts (Grade 1). She had to miss both last year because of injury.
Felicity tell us there were some very favourable comments at the Indoors Championships when it was announced that the Super Seniors Grass Courts Championships would return to East Glos this summer. Ongoing redevelopment at Wimbledon means they cannot host the event in 2016. Many played in the event at East Glos in 2012 and felt very happy with our facilities and the friendly welcome they received.
The photographs show the presentations by Austin Smith, retiring President of Seniors Tennis GB. Ruth Weston is on the left, Felicity on the right.
