Runner-up spot for tennis ace Tarvet in national finals (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans tennis ace Oliver Tarvet finishes runner-up in National Tour Finals

12:00pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Local Sport

Tennis talent Oliver Tarvet finished runner-up of the nine and under Aegon Winter National Tour Finals which took place at the National Tour Centre in London.

The nine-year-old from St Albans, who enjoyed a fine run of form en-route to the final, was narrowly beaten by James Vincent from Bristol in a competitive match which finished 7-4, 7-5.

Following an impressive run of form throughout the Aegon Winter National Tour over the last few months, the youngster was invited to compete in the prestigious Aegon Winter National Tour Finals by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

The invitation-only tournament is the pinnacle of the winter British tennis season and showcases the talent of some of the best young players in the country.

Tarvet, who trains at Batchwood and is part of the Aegon FutureStars programme, was one of only 16 players to be invited, having earned his place by accumulating enough ranking points from LTA tournaments throughout the winter.

Andrew Lewandowski, LTA Head of Talent Management, said: “To finish runner up at the prestigious Aegon Winter National Tour finals is a fantastic achievement for any young player and I’m sure Oliver will build on this experience.

“The tournament brings together the best boys and girls in the country, who have been playing in this national tour circuit throughout the winter.

“Competition at a young age is vitally important in developing both the tactical and mental competitive qualities the players need to have in place as they progress and start to play internationally.

“There’s obviously a long way to go for these players. It’s a long journey for any player hoping to make an impact on the game but we hope that with the right support, these players are given the best possible chance of reaching their full potential.”