Gosford Tennis Club (GTC) hosted the 4-day Gosford Gold Junior Tennis Summer Series over the first week of January.
The event attracted an impressive list of almost 400 players who travelled from far and wide, including many of the Coast’s own junior tennis stars. Spectators were treated to an incredible display of tennis, endurance and sportsmanship over the four days.
On the final day, temperatures rose to a scorching 39 degrees, forcing play to be suspended for a couple of hours. Local sensation, Nick De Vivo, handled the conditions extremely well, taking out the 16/U Boys Singles over Daniel El Azzi. De Vivo also won the Doubles event, partnering with Cooper Wilkinson, defeating Jayden Shipley, who teamed up with Liam O’Neil. De Vivo’s success comes hot on the heels of his win in the 16/U Gosford Open in December.
Zara Larke showed her class by winning the 16/U Girls in a tight tussle with talented local, Shannon Spencer. Central Coast rising star, Toby Eyrl-Collins, took to the court following a successful tournament in Melbourne at the end of last year. Eryl-Collins made the semifinals of both the 12/U Boys Singles and Doubles, but was then forced to retire due to the effects of the extreme heat half way through his singles match against Cruz Hewitt, son of Australian tennis legend, Lleyton Hewitt (4/6 6/4 4/2).
Hewitt was subsequently runner-up in the final to winner, Harrison Satara. Hewitt and Satara then teamed up to win the 12/U Boys Doubles final as well. S
Source: Gosford Tennis Club Reporter: Ross Barry