WANBOROUGH'S Louise Hunt teamed up with compatriot Lucy Shuker to great effect as the duo won the ITF 2 Israel Open.

The duo had joined forces to win Great Britain’s deciding doubles rubber against Russia at the World Team Cup European Qualification in Portugal the previous week and tasted success again in Ramat Hasharon.

They justified their status as top seeds, beating second seeds Katharina Kruger of Germany and Natalia Mayara of Brazil 6-3, 6-1 as both Brits made it three doubles titles in a row this season, although it was their first title of 2018 together.

Lucy Shuker and Louise Hunt justified top seeding to win the women’s doubles crown on the penultimate day of the Israel Open as Shuker also won their all-Brit women’s singles semi-final.

Shuker followed up doubles victories at the Georgia Open and the Cajun Classic in the USA, with Hunt adding to women’s doubles victories  earlier this year at the Biel-Bienne Indoor in Switzerland and the Alpi Del Mare ITF 3 in Cuneo, Italy.

Hunt, who is now unbeaten in her last nine double matches, was defeated by number eight seed Shuker in the singles competition, 6-3, 6-1.