British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 best junior tennis players rallied it out on LangfordB次元官网网址檚 red-clay courts this week as they tried to tune up for or earn their spot in next monthB次元官网网址檚 national championship.

The Bear Mountain 5 Star junior championship attracted the top U14 and U12 players from across the province to the resort communityB次元官网网址檚 tennis centre from Aug. 18 to 22.

The tournament served as a make-up competition for last yearB次元官网网址檚 cancelled provincial championship. Bear Mountain tennis director Joe Wood thought giving the under 14 players some reps on the resortB次元官网网址檚 red-clay courts would help them prepare for the upcoming junior nationalsB次元官网网址� clay contests.

As the U14 side wrapped up Friday, the girlsB次元官网网址� champ welcomed the playing surface.

B次元官网网址淚 like competing on the clay, it was fun because normally weB次元官网网址檙e on hard courts all the time,B次元官网网址� said SurreyB次元官网网址檚 Abigeyle Bhopal. B次元官网网址淚 like playing tennis, but I also probably like winning the most. It feels the best.B次元官网网址�

Bhopal came back to win after losing the first set. As for what changed in the final two sets, B次元官网网址淚 guess I stopped sucking,B次元官网网址� the 12-year-old said.

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Wood said the clay surface slows the pace of play, resulting in long rallies. That was the case for the all-Coquitlam boys U14 final match.

B次元官网网址淥n clay, itB次元官网网址檚 much tougher,B次元官网网址� said U14 champ Owen Nguyen. B次元官网网址淥n those long rallies, you have to stay focused, stay in the point. You canB次元官网网址檛 give away any easy or free points.B次元官网网址�

Junior tournaments picked up this summer after the pandemic bounced most of the last yearB次元官网网址檚 contests.

B次元官网网址淚t feels great just to be back on the court, competing and having fun,B次元官网网址� Nguyen said.

Wood commended the young players for their patience.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a strange year for everyone, I think the kids deserve an enormous amount of credit,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲atching them play and compete against their peers and friends is just a joy and I hope that they realize how lucky they are to be able to do this and be grateful that theyB次元官网网址檙e able to compete again.B次元官网网址�

The kids usually train in groups, but had to practice alone or maybe with a partner during the pandemic.

B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 tough mentally as well as physically for the kids,B次元官网网址� Wood said.

But the pandemic hasnB次元官网网址檛 impeded the skill among junior athletes.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty amazing to see 12-, 13-, 14-year-olds play at this level,B次元官网网址� Wood said.

With Canadian role models like 2019 US Open champ Bianca Andreescu, Denis Shapovalov and more, the tennis director said the future is looking bright.

B次元官网网址淭hat is just creating more and more of a buzz for tennis and I think itB次元官网网址檚 just growing as a sport here.B次元官网网址�

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