Phillips helps Sussex tennis ladies clinch prize

Some phenomenal performances this season means they have booked a place in the winter finals for a second successive year.

The squad have also been boosted by the news that Lisa Phillips will once again be competing in the competition.

Sussex will come up against some of the most talented players in the country when they face Surrey, Middlesex and Yorkshire over three days at Bath University.

Sussex’s squad remains largely unchanged from last year, with a mix of youth and experience. One new addition to the team is Naomi Jackson, an up-and-coming 17-year-old from Eastbourne. Jackson, along with Phillips and East Sussex’s Elise Van Heuvelen and Holly Thompson, make up the younger members of the squad.

They all have experience of playing in the junior County Cup together over many years.

Joint-team captains are Lydia Hammond and Natasha Khan and the rest of the team is made up of Kyria Dunford, Michaela Ince, Kate Smith and Olivia Smith.

Felpham’s Phillips got ready for the Sussex team event by progressing into the main draw of the British Tour in Taunton.

The 18-year-old talent beat Cornwall’s Shannon Sandy in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 to reach the first round.

However, Phillips was always going to face an uphill task as she drew Georgian number one seed Mariam Bolkvadze.

That proved to be just a step for far for Phillips as she was dumped out of the competition.

But Phillips can take a lot of encouragement by qualifying for the main draw in Taunton.

For further details of Phillips’ progress or if you would like tennis coaching, see www.lisaphillips.co.uk