Hart serves up super performance (From Dudley News)

Hart serves up super performance

11:00am Friday 28th December 2012 in Sport

A RISING young tennis star from Hagley finished third at the National under-8s finals.

Joe Hart demonstrated his ability at Bisham Abbey by reaching the semi-finals.

The Hagley First School pupil, who has been playing tennis since the age of three, won his four strong group to reach the knockout stages.

He then saw off William Cheer in the last eight but was edged out by Jay Darvery in the semi-finals.

Hart saw third placed ensured when his opponent in the play-offs, Theodore Purkis, pulled out because of injury.

Coach James Griffiths said: “James is now effectively the third best player in his age group in the country.

“To reach the nationals he had to win the Birmingham regionals, so he’s done extremely well.”

Earlier in the season, Hart won the Edgbaston Priory Open and was selected for the British Tennis regional squad where the stars of the future are put through their paces.

Hart’s success is the icing on the cake for Bromsgrove juniors who have county champions and other nationally ranked players regularly playing and being coached.

Head coach Richard Lawton said: “This has been another very successful year for the junior programme.”