LIVE!- Anyone for tennis? (From Malvern Gazette)

LIVE!- Anyone for tennis?

5:25pm Saturday 5th July 2008

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AFTER Andrew Murray captured the hearts of the British public and Wimbledon fever has gripped the nation over the last fortnight, how is the sport faring at local level?

Join sports editor Mark Stanford from 12.30pm this Saturday as he visits Malvern's Manor Park Sports Club to see the state of tennis in the town.

LIVE! The Manor Park Tennis Finals Day.

The tournament features more than 30 finals. There are under-15s matches, plate matches, ladies and men's singles finals, junior contests and veterans matches.

2.58pm- COACH'S VIEW: Dan Thorp is here with his family, relaxing, watching the action, but the rest of his week he coaches at the club.

The players that he coaches vary in age, from under 10s to over 60s.

Dan joined Manor Park when he was 10 in 1980 and has coached here for more than 15 years.

Dan said: "What's the nice thing about days like this are that all the sections of the club can get to see each other.

"It's also good to see some of the players that I coached when they were younger in action."

2.20pm- ORGANISING FINALS DAY: Whilst today's tournament matches are well underway and running smoothly, event organiser Jo Marks reveals the work that goes on behind the scenes.

Jo said: "The organisation for today starts in April.

"The kids are a doddle to organise but the grown ups are terrible!

"It takes a lot to sort out the draw for the event.

"We had the plus 60 years men's veterans kick-off finals day at 10am this morning.

"The age range of players taking part today is from eight-years-old up to 65-years-old."

2.06pm- THE STATE OF THE GAME: Tennis is thriving in Malvern thanks to tie-ups between town schools and clubs like Manor Park, according to Mark Cox, sports development co-ordinator from Malvern College.

Cox said: "It's great at the moment, tennis is healthy in schools.

"This time of year we all think that we can re-enact what we see on the TV at Wimbledon. The children can think that they're Nadal.

"The key for a lot of clubs is to keep active during the close season, keep kids interest ticking over during the close season.

"When the impetus of Wimbledon dies down they have to keep going.

"Manor Park is thriving. The Chase School and Malvern College are very active with tennis. They are doing really well. The Chase produce some good teams. Both schools have a lot of good tennis going on."

1.37pm- NEXT GENERATION: Fresh from the court in their under-15s boys final, 12-year-old Jamie Marks and his opponent 14-year-old Jack Cooney discuss their passion for the sport.

Both play at Manor Park five times a week, all year round and they have played since they were old enough to pick up a racket.

Jamie, who beat Jack 6-1, 6-0, said: "I've been playing since I was four or five.

"Quite a few people play in the summer but both of us play all year round."

Wearing Wimbledon sweatbands, Fraser Cox, aged nine, has been playing tenis for the last four years. Today he tok part in the orange tournament and finished runner-up. He tells me his favourite player is Nadal.

12.56pm- BOOMING: Manor Park Sports Club boasts facilities for a collection of sports including squash, archery and bowls, but manager Andy Nicholls says its Tennis that proves the most popular.

The Albert Road North club now has 1,500 members with a third of these signed up for tennis.

Nicholls said: "Wimbledon has been a good thing for us this year.

"Tennis is booming, probably because of the professional coaching we can offer. It seems to be as popular as ever.

"The sport is on the up and up. It's our top sport here at Manor Park.

"But even without Wimbledon we get membership and people asking for coaching."

12.52pm- Tuck is the winner in the men's singles, two sets to love-both 6-2, 6-2.

12.46pm- Tuck moves to a 5-2 lead.

12.42pm- The matches here at Manor Park are being played on astro turf pitches and despite overnight rain the contests are being played in glorious sunshine alongside the backdrop of the Malvern Hills. There is also a crowd of people on the hill here at the club enjoying a barbecue.

12.38pm- In the men's singles finals, Tuck is closing in one the victory as he races to a 4-1 lead in the second set.

12.25pm- The men's singles final is currently being played, the best of three sets between youngsters Ben Marks and Richard Tuck.

Richard took the first set 6-2 and is three games to love up in the second set.

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