Bromley LTC Through To AEGON Finals

Last Saturday saw Bromley Lawn Tennis Club contest their group stage play-off in the AEGON Team Tennis National Championships against Halton Tennis Centre in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Playing in idyllic conditions and surroundings within the historic Royal Air Force grounds with planes and gliders frequently passing overhead, a victory in this tie would ensure the defending National Champions progress to the Bournemouth Finals.

Spearheading Bromley’s campaign was the former world number 84, Jean-Rene Lisnard. Having reached the last round in the Wimbledon qualifying event just a couple of weeks earlier “JR”, as he is known on the tour, quickly despatched Halton’s Peter Thorne 6-0, 6-1.

Team stalwart Tom Higgins was playing at number two for Bromley this week and the former British Top Twenty player didn’t disappoint, beating Stuart Pugh 6-2, 6-3.

Andrew Richardson, Bromley’s Head Coach and Britain’s former No. 3, made light work of Halton’s Owen Richards, beating his younger opponent 6-3, 6-1.

Oliver Freelove, Bromley’s Team Manager and Britain’s former No.8, won the fourth singles by beating Halton’s Tom Miller 6-2, 6-1.

By winning all four singles the doubles matches became dead rubbers and Bromley were through to the finals.

Speaking after the match Freelove was delighted with the victory. “It has been a difficult season for us this year. Having lost two matches in the group stages we weren’t certain of qualification for the finals and we took nothing for granted today. Winning all four singles in emphatic style was tremendous and I couldn’t have asked for any more from the team today. We can now focus on defending our title in Bournemouth next week. This won’t be an easy task though as we will be up against some of the best players in the country”.

The National AEGON Team Tennis Championships Finals take place at The West Hants Club in Bournemouth between Friday 15th to Sunday 17th July.