WHEELCHAIR TENNIS: Happy birthday to Lou.... (From Swindon Advertiser)

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS: Happy birthday to Lou....

6:00am Monday 28th May 2012 in Sport

Wanborough’s Louise Hunt gained a late 21st birthday present when Great Britain won a bronze medal in the women’s event at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup - the Davis and Fed Cup-style wheelchair tennis team competition for the world’s top nations.

It’s the second year in succession that Hunt’s returned from the prestigious competition with a bronze medal.

The British No 3 partnered British No 1 Lucy Shuker to beat Spanish duo Elena Jacinto and Lola Ochoa 6-2, 6-4 in the doubles rubber of Great Britain’s second round-robin pool match as Britain finished top of Group D after a 2-1 win over the USA and a 3-0 win over Spain.

With Great Britain having much the hard of the two semi-finals, top seeds and defending champions the Netherlands won both singles rubbers in the last four contest before Hunt again partnered Shuker for the doubles rubber.

With Hunt and Shuker facing the might of the Dutch on Hunt’s 21st birthday, the Wiltshire player had to wait for the final reward as Marjolein Buis and Jiske Griffioen, two of the world’ top four players, beat Hunt and Shuker 6-0, 6-2 However, Shuker and British No. 2 Jordanne Whiley both beat higher ranked opponents in Friday’s bronze medal play-off as Great Britain secured a 2-0 victory over second seeds Germany.

“It’s lovely to leave Korea with a bronze medal, especially after spending my 21st away from home, but it’s always a great honour to represent my country and I’m very happy that we got the bronze after the toughest of the semi-finals.“ said Hunt, who has met qualification requirements for the London Paralympics this year .

“I’ve got lots of good friends on the wheelchair tennis circuit and everyone spoiled me and helped me have a great birthday, despite the loss to the mighty Dutch.

“I’ve now got a silver medal and two bronze medals from the World Team Cup since 2009 and last year me and Jordanne played all the singles and doubles matches en route to winning bronze, so I’m looking forward to many more similar challenges in the future.”