RISING tennis star Harry Lazell is celebrating victory in the National 16 and Under Championships at Nottingham after an outstanding season.
Coming into the tournament as a wild card, the 14-year-old from Warwick Boat Club he took out third seeded Lui Maxted 6-3 6-1 in the semi-finals before a blistering display against Barney Fitzpatrick in the final to take the title a year younger than most of his rivals.
He and Fitzpatrick also combined to take the doubles crown unseeded, narrowly beating the second seeds Alex Solenenko and Arran Trainor in a thrilling semi-final 6-4 7-6, then thrashing Ben Nicol and William Trainor in the final 6-3 6-2.
Harry, who lives in Warwickl won the U10 Nike Junior National Tennis Championship in 2014 and since then has gone from strength to strength.
A former pupil at Warwick School, he is now on a tennis scholarship at Tim Henman’s alma mater Reeds School in Cobham, Surrey, where he combines his academic studies with full-time tennis training.
Last year he won the prestigious Road to Wimbledon doubles championship and has also represented Team GB in several international junior events.
In December he was invited on a three-week LTA trip to the US, where he played in both the Orange Bowl and Eddie Herr tournaments, two of the world’s top junior events, reaching the quarter-finals in the latter against tough competition.
When not away competing, Lazell still turns out for Warwick Boat Club which this year won the men’s coveted Coventry and District Premiership League title for the first time in several years, thanks to a side strengthened by top players including former Wimbledon giant-killerr and coach Marcus Willis, tennis captain Paul Martin, head coach Gavin Henderson and tour player Richard Partridge.
“We’re all thrilled for Harry,” said Martin, a former junior international.
“He’s an outstanding prospect and a dedicated, hard-working lad who thoroughly deserves his growing success.
“I’ve followed his career ever since he started playing at Warwick Boat Club, aged four, and it’s great that he still enjoys turning out to play for the club when he gets the chance.
“He’s wonderfully quick and athletic, a big-hitter and a great doubles player which adds extra aggression and punch to his singles.
“We’re all rooting for him as he aims to make a career on the international circuit.”
