Wet weather proves a real damp squib for tennis aces (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Wet weather proves a real damp squib for tennis aces

5:00pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Sport By Matt Plummer

Frinton's international veterans’ tournament has been blighted by the weather.

The event got under way on Monday and is scheduled to finish on Saturday.

However, wet weather throughout the week meant that as of yesterday lunchtime it had been impossible to play on the club’s famous grass courts.

Instead, the action had to be played out on hard courts.

“Despite the heavy rain on Sunday, we were still hopeful we’d be able to use the grass on Monday morning,” said club manager and tournament director Kim Willetts.

“But the shower at the start of the week put paid to that and it’s been the same throughout the tournament.

“It’s slowed things down because we’ve only got six hard courts, compared to a dozen grass ones.

“And you tend to get longer rallies – and therefore longer games – on the hard surface.”

Despite the problems, there has still been plenty of top-class action across the various age categories.

The singles competitions were well under way and up to the quarter-final stage by lunchtime yesterday.

The doubles were due to start yesterday afternoon and the mixed doubles either today or tomorrow.

Entry is free and play is due to get under way at 10am.

As soon as the veterans event finishes, the next one starts as the Men’s $10K Aegon Pro Series begins on Sunday, in tandem with the British Tour event.

Both finish on July 21.

For a picture special, see this week's Frinton Gazette.