Billericay’s Alice Green came within a whisker of adding the French Junior Open title to her English and British crowns on Sunday when she was narrowly beaten in the Under-15 final in Lille by European No.1 Alina Bushma from the Ukraine .
Unseeded Alice, 13, currently ranked five in England, came through a testing route to the final facing number two seed Ciara Richards from Wales in her opening match. After winning that tough encounter 3-1, Alice then faced another fancied opponent in the shape of 5/8 seed Georgia Adderley from Scotland.
Buoyed by her win over Richards, Alice, who plays at Club Kingswood in Basildon, was brimming with confidence and took just 37 minutes to take out her opponent 3-0. Next up was Avon’s Karina Tyma, higher ranked in England than Alice and 11 months older. Karina took the opening game 11-9 but Alice’s confidence was not dented as she stormed back to win the next three, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 and put herself into the showpiece final
In what proved to be one of the longest matches in the tournament, 49 minutes, Alice won the opening game 11-9 showing she was not daunted by taking on the number seed. Bushma hit back edging the next two 11-6, 11-7, preludes the a cracking fourth game which had the packed house enthralled. Despite a monumental effort from the Essex player, a relieved Bushma scraped over the line taking the game 15-13.
Essex had four other players in action in France, all producing creditable displays and finishes. Aaron Allpress reached the third round of the U-17’s before falling to the number one seed. His victories over Andrea Bo of Norway and Matis Lautier of France helped him to claim 12th place overall.
Oliver Green (U-13), Robert Pearson (U-19) and Conor Adams(U-17), all bagged opening round victories before the suffering their first defeats. Oliver finished 17th, Conor 24th and Robert 32nd.