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EJTT 2022 switched back to May this year for the first time since 2019. With EJTT 2020 & 2021 having been moved to September because of Covid.
The singles was missing a familiar name on the entry list. With 8 time singles champion Reece Foxon missing out through injury. The other big name missing was Shiel Dadrah, who came so close to making the final last year. Defending champion Elliot Jones topped the seedings, with 2018 champion Ashley Jolly as number 2 and 2016 champion Matt Leadbetter at number 3. Those three being the only former champions in the field. Despite an early exit last year, Kamil Mocar was the number 4 seed after a good few EJMSL Medway league campaigns. 2015 runner-up Michael Springett was number 5, and after a year's break, Dan Nash returned as number 6 seed. After his run to the quarter finals last year, Anil Babu was number 7 and despite an early exit last year, our youngest player Hari Williams was at number 8.
The 2022 doubles teams were considerably stronger than 2021, with The Chauhan brothers selected as number 1 seeds. Elliot Jones changed partners again, he partnered Michael Springett who was making his debut in the doubles event. Three time champions Joe Frost & Dan Nash were back as number 3 seeds. While last year's champion, Andy Taylor partnered Adam Budd, making up the number 4 seeds. We also had 4 women in the doubles, including an all female team made up by Clare & Kathryn Dudfield. This was the first all female team for 8 years, since Jade Brown & Louise Rackley exited in the first round in 2014.
Back to the singles, and the 10 lowest ranked players went into round 1, and it through up some familiar clashes between EJMSL league players. Jolly & Leadbetter were drawn in the same half of the draw, and Mocar & Springett were drawn in the same quarter, with one of those likely to reach the semi finals.
The tournament started on Sunday 24th April with Nick Leeks taking on Cesar Lopez, the two having met recently in the league with Leeks a 6-2, 6-2 winner. It was a bigger margin of victory this time as Lopez failed to win a game, leading Leeks into a double bagel win.
Monday 25th saw two matches played. The first of which was another Medway league derby, this time between the late Chris Sousa-Phipps & George Collins. The big man produced a classy display, dispatching Collins 6-2, 6-3. Our first doubles match later on produced a convincing win for Rob Crashaw & Rob Vile, they beat the Dudfield sisters 6-1, 6-0 at Oakwood Park.
After 3 days of no tennis, we returned on Friday 29th April, with George Collins bouncing back from his 1st round defeat to beat Cesar Lopez in the first round of the consolation draw 6-3, 6-2. We then headed over to Sittingbourne where Joe Frost started off the 2nd round with a routine 6-1, 6-1 win over Nick Leeks. We then returned to Rochester as the in from Jai Attra handed out a double bagel to Chris Sousa-Phipps, despite the defeat, Chris was still smiling, as always.
Saturday 30th saw one match played. The closest match of the tournament so far, and history was made as Isabelle Eustache became the first female player to reach the 3rd round. she beat Prem Rai 7-6(3), 6-4. Prem would gain revenge two months later in our Medway tennis league.
We move on to Sunday 1st May, and there was a doubles 1st round win for Katy Girling & Chris Sousa-Phipps, they beat Angelica & Riccardo Ragazzo 6-4, 6-4. Then there were two more double bagel wins, both surprising ones. Rob Crashaw beat Jatinder Kooner. Then Jai Attra produced the best performance of his career, destroying the 8th seed Hari Williams, who had no answer to Jai's consistency. Jai hit 10 winners and just 13 unforced errors all match. If Jai could keep to that level, he'd be a serious title contender. It was a shocking result.
Monday 2nd May saw another 3 matches played. Louis Howard & Lee White finished off the first round. Howard coming out on top 6-1, 6-3. Then there was a shock in the doubles, with the number 4 seeds Budd & Taylor crashing out. They lost 6-3, 6-3 away to Rob Crashaw & Rob Vile, who were into the semi finals on their debut. Andy Taylor then got revenge on Crashaw, beating him in the 2nd round of the singles 6-2, 6-2.
One match on Tuesday saw a shock in the consolation draw as Chris Sousa-Phipps beat a player above him in the EJMSL Medway league table. He beat Nick Leeks in an epic 3 setter. 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. That win put Chris into the consolation semi finals.
After 1 day off, we returned to action on Thursday 5th May and to another upset. Ali Smith was the favourite as he made the journey from Southwest London to Kent to play Louis Howard in round 2. Smith looked to be cruising first set, but Howard battled back from 5-2 down to take the first set on a tiebreak 8-6. Smith took the 2nd 6-3, but Howard pulled off the upset by taking the 3rd set 6-2. Ali said afterwards "I bottled it".
Friday 6th May saw round 3 continue and to the most eagerly anticipated match of the tournament so far, with Joe Frost taking on the 5th seed Michael Springett. Frost had won their only previous encounter comfortably, though that was 4 and half years ago. This time it was roles reversed, Springett has improved massively since their last meeting, with the league improving the standards of all the regular players, and Springett showed his quality, winning comfortably 6-3, 6-1. Anil Babu then ended Isabelle Eustache's run, winning 6-1, 6-0 against his Gravesham mixed doubles partner.
Just the one match on Saturday as Prem Rai progressed to the consolation semi finals, he beat Lee White 6-1, 6-0. Prem was the favourite for the consolation title.
Sunday 8th May opened up with Kamil Mocar reaching the quarter finals for the first time. He beat Andy Taylor 6-2, 6-2. Taylor exiting just before the quarter finals for the 3rd successive year. Over in Sittingbourne Frost & Nash reached their 5th doubles semi final. They ended Girling & Sousa-Phipps campaign with a 6-1, 6-1 win. Then over in Welling we saw another shock in the consolation! George Collins upset the odds to reach the semi finals. he beat Rob Crashaw 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
We were back in Rochester on Monday for three matches as we approached the business end of the tournament. It was a great night for Ali Smith, who recorded back to back wins to reach the consolation final. First he beat Jatinder Kooner 6-1, 6-2, then he knocked out the favourite, and in style too, beating an out of sorts Prem Rai 6-1, 6-0. Ashley Jolly also started his campaign, he had an extremely tough encounter on paper with Jai Attra, but Jai couldn't find the form from his previous match as Jolly came through 6-4, 6-4. Ashley said afterwards "I was so poor on first serve in the first set, jai wasn't as aggressive as last time we played". Jolly maintaining his record of having never lost before the semi final stage. Now 5 years in a row, since his debut in 2018.
The following day saw Dan Nash reach his 4th EJTT singles quarter final. He ended Louis Howard's good run with a 6-1, 6-0 win. Then it was the first of the doubles semi final. Frost & Nash fought really hard and did themselves proud, but the Chauhan brothers were too good, and big favourites for the title this year, they came through 6-3, 6-3. Nash said afterwards "They was different level to us, but we gave it a good go. You learn a lot from matches like that"
On Wednesday 11th May, former champion and last year's runner-up Matt Leadbetter entered the fray, he had a tough quarter final against fellow Gravesham player Anil Babu, but Leadbetter proved too strong for Babu, coming through 6-4, 6-2 to reach his 9th EJTT singles semi final!
We had another day off, then came the most hotly anticipated singles quarter final. The 4th & 5th seeds taking on each other were Kamil Mocar & Michael Springett. Mocar led the head to head 3-2, but Springett had won the last 2 in a row, so this was going to be close. Thats exactly what happened, Mocar took the first set 6-2, then Springett levelled by taking the 2nd 6-3. The 3rd set was tight all the way, but Mocar eventually got over the line to win 7-5 and reach his first EJTT semi final.
The following day saw Springett back in action in the doubles. He and Elliot Jones played superbly to end the two Rob's fine run. Crashaw & Vile losing out 6-0, 6-1 to the number 2 seeds.
Like Wimbledon, we had Sunday off and we returned on Monday for our final quarter final. Defending champion Elliot Jones was in action on a very windy evening. Dan Nash was his opponent, looking to make his first EJTT semi final. Both players weren't at their best, but Jones's consistency took him through. 6-3, 6-1 it finished. Jones was into his 15th EJTT semi final. Jones said afterwards "I wasnt at my best, played far too defensive. I'll need to improve if I'm to lift the title".
The following day it was time for the second consolation semi final and the rematch between Collins & Sousa-Phipps. It threw up a classic. Sousa-Phipps won their previous encounter 3 weeks ago fairly comfortably. This time was different. After two and a half hours we had a result. Collins took the first set 6-4, Sousa-Phipps levelled with a 6-4 set of his own, but it was Collins this time who got the win, 6-3 in the final set to reach his first consolation final! Collins said afterwards; "I'm most impressed with my quality to hang in there more lately, usually i just drop off and have no fight, but my last two wins have been proper battles, so I'm happy with that". Chris said "I wilted under the sun, great match though, neither of us at our best, it was a long hard slog"
Three and a half weeks later Chris very sadly passed away while playing a match in our Medway tennis league. I'd like to take this opportunity to say what a pleasure it was to meet Chris many times and I'm forever grateful for that and all the feedback he gave me on this tournament and the leagues. Chris was always smiling, he clearly loved the leagues, and we will remember him forever after naming our 3rd division in his honour. I wouldn't have done this for anyone, but Chris deserved it for being the person he was, everyone in the league misses him.
Later that evening was the doubles final, with the number 1 and 2 seeds meeting in the final. Kshitij & Paree Chauhan got off to a flying start with a double break, and never looked back as they beat Jones & Springett 6-2, 6-4. Congratulations to Paree & Kshitij!
Thursday 19th May, and it was time for our first semi final and it produced a classic. It was the 2nd time Jolly & Leadbetter were meeting in an EJTT semi final, with Leadbetter winning in 3 sets back in 2019. Jolly came out aggressive, he played some beautiful and took the first set 6-0. But Leadbetter fought back, he was helped by an outrageous 17 double faults from Ashley Jolly, including 4 in one game. Leadbetter took the 2nd set 6-3, and saw some match points come and go in the 3rd set, but Leadbetter eventually got over the line, 7-5. Jolly was kicking himself, he looked in control for most of the match, but the double faults seem to turn the match. Leadbetter was into his 6th EJTT final. Ashley said afterwards "I started well, played with good aggression and felt like i was in control for most of it. My double faults annoyed me in the 2nd set. I got back on track in the 3rd set, then struggled with cramp. Matt was better in the 2nd & 3rd sets, played much better at the net than me and didn't give much away, so credit to him".
The second semi final saw number 1 seed Elliot Jones take on number 4 seed Kamil Mocar. Mocar had never previously beaten Jones, down 4-0 on head to head, but had taken his first set against Jones in their last meeting. It was another windy evening, and despite not being at his best, Jones came through in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. He was into his 5th EJTT final.
Sunday 22nd May was finals day, and the sun was blazing on a very hot day. This time being held at Swanley Community Tennis. The consolation final was up first, with Ali Smith favourite, against George Collins. Their first meeting. Smith was on top from the start, with Collins struggling to stay in touch. Smith stayed aggressive and came through simply in the end for his first title, winning 6-3, 6-3. A great tournament for both players.
The singles final was a rematch of last year. Jones & Leadbetter were level at 2-2 in EJTT meetings. Jones of course winning in straight sets last year. This time though it was roles reversed. Both players tried to be aggressive, but it was working for Leadbetter, not for Jones. Leadbetter took the first set easily, 6-1. and was cruising in the 2nd set too. Then came some drama. Leadbetter had 3 championship points at 5-2 0-40. Jones saved all three and then came one of the lengthiest deuces in EJTT history, 11 in total, which ended with Jones saving a huge 10 match points before winning the game. It was too little, too late for Jones. Leadbetter stayed composed and focused to take the 2nd set 6-3 on his 12th match point. Leadbetter was the better player throughout, he thoroughly deserved to win this match and his 2nd title. Jones said after "Matt fully deserved to win, it was roles reversed from last year!" Congratulations Matt!
Wow, what a great tournament, thanks to all the players, and everyone who took an interest in the tournament, see you in May 2023!