The men's 1st team will be bidding for their first win of the
season on Sunday. Having gained promotion to the top national
division, the team have narrowly lost their opening three matches
against some of the country's best sides. The fixture with
Paddington presents a fantastic opportunity to get off the mark,
although it will be a stern test as Paddington already have one win
under their belt.
Baker and Hutchins, who are playing in their debut AEGON Team
Tennis season for the club, will both be in action. Baker
reached a career-high singles world ranking of No.186 before
retiring from professional tennis in 2013. He played in the
singles main draw at Wimbledon five times and also made five Davis
Cup appearances for Great Britain. Hutchins, whose
career-best, doubles world ranking was No.26, retired from
professional tennis in 2014 after reaching the mixed doubles
semi-final at the US Open. He was also a men's doubles
quarter-finalist at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2011, and he
represented Great Britain seven times in Davis Cup.
Baker and Hutchins will be lining up alongside Nik Snapes and
team captain Chris Archer, with Ross's brother Blake Hutchins named
as a doubles substitute. On the other side of the net,
Paddington are expected to have former Ireland Davis Cup player
John Doran amongst their ranks, while they also boast a number of
other highly rated players.
"Jamie and Ross have both competed at the top level of the game,
so it's fantastic to have players of their calibre representing
Roehampton Club," said Archer. "This Sunday's match should be
an absolute cracker with both teams desperate for a win. I
encourage all members to come and enjoy the great tennis on offer,
particularly any aspiring junior members who will learn a lot from
watching Jamie and Ross."
Completing the double header, the ladies' 1st team are taking on
Surbiton as they look to extend their unbeaten run. Led by
team captain Rachel Partington, the side have dropped just one
rubber in their opening two matches as wins over Purley and St
George's Hill have seen them open up a gap at the top of the
table. Roehampton Club are bidding for an immediate return to
the south-east regional division of AEGON Team Tennis.
This Sunday's line-up sees Natasha Marks playing in the No.1
singles position. Marks is impressively yet to lose a game in
singles play this season and will be gunning for another 6-0 6-0
result against Surbiton. Marks is joined by Jess Jackson,
Catherine Blazye and Emma Smith, who are also unbeaten thus
far.
In advance of the 1st team matches at 2pm, the men's and ladies'
2nd teams are both taking on sides from Old College at 10am.
The men's 2nd team face an away trip to Old College, while the
ladies' 2nd team play them at home. Both of Roehampton Club's
2nd teams are currently sitting top of their respective divisions
at the county level of AEGON Team Tennis.
The format for AEGON Team Tennis matches sees four singles
players on each team face their opposite number, followed by two
doubles rubbers. If the score is level at three wins each, the
teams play a 'tiebreak shoot-out' to decider the winner!