LOUIS Keenan, Natasha Forrest, Max Forbes and Isabella Aldridge were among the standout performers as the inaugural Pebble Summer Slam delivered a weekend of top-class tennis at Caesareans Tennis Club.
With former ATP professional Scott Clayton returning to the court, international competitors travelling to Jersey and a host of local stars lifting silverware, the new LTA Grade 3 tournament exceeded expectations and provided some of the highest-quality tennis seen on the island in recent years.
Created with the ambition of establishing Jersey as a destination tournament, the LTA Grade 3 event attracted players from across the UK, Guernsey and the island, with a £2,500 prize fund, sponsored by Pebble Home and Lifestyle, helping to draw one of the strongest fields seen locally in years.
“The standard was the best we’ve seen in Jersey for many, many years,” said tournament director and Jersey Tennis and Padel vice-chair Sonia Smith.
“Particularly the men’s draw, which was a bumper field. The men’s singles and men’s doubles were played at a really, really high level.
“We wanted to create something special and show what tennis in Jersey can offer, and I think we’ve done that.”
The headline event produced an all-Jersey men’s singles final despite a host of off-island challengers entering the competition.
Louis Keenan, home for the summer from Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, was in dominant form throughout the tournament. Seeded third, he cruised through the early rounds before defeating newcomer Reuben Davey 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals and James Faudemer 6-0, 6-1 in a one-sided final.
Keenan barely dropped a game all weekend and proved his status as one of Jersey’s leading players.
Davey, meanwhile, announced himself to the local tennis community in style. New to the island, the Exeter University player produced arguably the upset of the tournament when he knocked out top seed and Guernsey star Rob West 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.
“Reuben just sort of walked up and beat the number one seed,” said Smith.
“We knew he was good, but we didn’t quite know how good. It was exciting to see because he’ll be representing Jersey this summer.”
Keenan completed a double triumph alongside university team-mate Marnix Van Dalen in the men’s doubles.
The pair defeated top seeds James Faudemer and Rob West 6-1, 6-0 in the final after coming through a highly competitive draw.
One of the matches of the weekend came in the semi-finals, where Rob West and James Faudemer edged former ATP professional Scott Clayton and his lifelong friend George Dupays 7-5, 2-6, 12-10.
The encounter drew large crowds and provided a reminder of Clayton’s class despite his retirement from professional tennis.
“It was amazing to have Scott involved,” said Smith.
“He drew in the crowds and showed everyone what a professional can do on court. It was beautiful to watch.”
Natasha Forrest returned from the United States and immediately stamped her authority on the tournament, continuing her dominance on island in style.
Alongside fellow American college player Emily Frost, Forrest stormed to the women’s doubles title with a pair of emphatic victories, defeating Sonia Smith and Clare Clarke 6-2, 6-0 in the final.
Forrest then completed another dominant run in the mixed doubles alongside partner Van Dalen.
The couple did not drop a game throughout the competition and capped their campaign with a victory over Scott Clayton and Smith in the final.
“Natasha barely dropped a game all tournament,” said Smith.
“She was outstanding, and Marnix was incredible too. Together they showed their quality throughout the weekend.”
The under-18 competitions exemplified the strength of Jersey’s emerging talent.
Max Forbes lifted the boys’ singles title after an impressive campaign which culminated in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over visiting player Xander Clode in the final.
Clode had reached the showpiece match after edging Jersey’s Sonny Derrien in a gripping semi-final battle 2-6, 7-5, 10-3.
Forbes’ success was particularly notable given the strength of the field, which included several players from the UK.
“There were some really strong juniors over from the UK, so for Max to come through and win was a great achievement,” Smith said.
The girls’ singles title went to Island Games representative Isabella Aldridge, who produced a flawless display to defeat Azmeera Macdonald 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
Aldridge did not drop a set all tournament and much like Louis Keenan, continued her impressive development, reinforcing her reputation as one of Jersey’s leading young players
While the open events showcased elite-level tennis, the over-45 mixed doubles competition proved one of the most fiercely contested sections of the weekend.
Richard O’Donovan and Fabienne Berry eventually emerged victorious after defeating Chris and Henrietta Manton-Jones 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 in a dramatic final.
“The average time of those matches was longer than many of the open matches because they were so closely contested,” said Smith. “It was brilliant to see.”
The tournament concluded with a barbecue, live music and presentations, bringing together competitors and spectators after three days of action.
For Smith, however, the biggest success was the statement the event made about tennis in Jersey.
With international players travelling to the island, strong crowds throughout the weekend and several local champions emerging victorious, organisers believe the Summer Slam can become a permanent fixture on the sporting calendar.
“We’ve really put Jersey on the map,” Smith said.
“The feedback has been fantastic. We want to make it bigger, bring more people over and continue building it year after year.
“This was only the beginning.”
