Esther Adeshina shines for GB (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Esther Adeshina shines for GB

4:00pm Monday 4th February 2013 in Sport

BASINGSTOKE’S young tennis star Esther Adeshina helped Great Britain to reach the finals of the under-12 Tennis Europe Winter Cup.

The 11-year was one of three girls – along with Lauren Armstrong (Buckinghamshire) and Tanysha Dissanayake (Surrey) – who travelled to Neudorfl, Austria for the qualifying round.

The GB team received a bye in round one, setting up a semi-final tie against Belgium, who had beaten Croatia.

The British girls defeated the Belgium team 2-1 to progress to the group finals.

Dissanayake lost the opening rubber, a tightly fought three setter against Belgium’s An-Sophie Zwakhoven, 0-6, 6-1, 2-6, before Armstrong levelled the match after an impressive performance against Belgium’s Lena Delfosse winning 6-2, 6-3. At 1-1, it came down to the doubles rubber to decide which country would secure a place in the finals.

St Bede’s Catholic Preimary School pupil Adeshina teamed up with Armstrong for an outstanding and assured doubles performance, winning 6-2, 6-2 against Belgium and securing GB’s spot in not only the group finals but also qualification for the final rounds.

In the final, the following day, the GB team put up a good fight against very tough Russian opposition, losing all three games.

GB will hope for better luck in the finals which take place at the Graves Tennis Centre, Sheffield from February 8 to 10 and will feature Russia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Moldova, Romania, Switzerland, Turkey and the host nation.

Following on from her international trip to represent GB in Antwerp, Brussels in August 2012, Adeshina started 2013 by representing GB at Tennis Europe Junior tournaments.

The 11-year-old , who trains at David Lloyd Southampton under the tutelage of head coach David Ison, was on the team representing GB in a Tennis Europe Category 3 tournament, the Open des 10-12 in Boulogne- Billancourt, France earlier in the month, competing in the 12U girls’ singles category.

Adeshina reached the third round of the event after defeating Olympe Lancelot (France) in straight sets 7-5 6-1.

John Trehearn, National Junior Coach said: “It was a good win for Esther who played a very good defensive player with an excellent backhand slice. “Esther maintained her composure when it mattered and closed out the match well."

Adeshina played French wild card Diana Martynov (FRA) in the third round, losing out in a three setter 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.