THE tennis inter-insular returns to Jersey on Sunday with the home side looking to wrestle the title back that they lost to their neighbours last year.
It was the first time Guernsey had won in 14 years when they beat Jersey on home turf 9-3.
It was the doubles that clinched it for the Caesareans, with the Sarnians winning all four matches and Sonia Smith admits they have been paying a lot more attention to this format of the game in preparation for the showdown.
‘We only won three singles matches and lost all the doubles,’ said Smith.
‘We’ve been focusing on the doubles a bit more this year. It’s much more tactical and less physical than playing singles.
‘We started our county training a while back now and we’ve been religiously training for one-and-half hours every week for weeks now and that is helping us feel more of a team.’
Smith said that the team would not be revealed until later in the week.
The chair of Jersey Tennis and Padel is herself provisionally in the squad but is a doubt through injury.
She confirmed, however, there may be one or two surprises named and a few new faces.
Scott Weaver is the team captain, hoping to rouse his players to victory.
The Jersey team have also been working on their strength and conditioning at Strive Health Club.
‘The Island has needed this and Strive has been very good for us,’ added Smith.
‘Tennis is a very physical game now and as such the standards have definitely gone up.’
The inter-insular takes place at Caesarean tennis club, with the singles matches scheduled to start at 10.30am and doubles at 12.30pm.
