NEWTOWN tennis star Nicholas Jones finished runner-up in the 18 and Under AEGON Winter National Tour Finals, at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
The 17-year-old, who enjoyed a fine run of form en-route to the final, was beaten by Jack Findel-Hawkins from Exmouth, Devon in an entertaining final, which finished 6-3, 6-0.
Following an impressive run of form throughout the Winter National Tour, over the last few months, Nicholas was invited to compete in the prestigious AEGON Winter National Tour Finals by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
The invitation-only tournament is the pinnacle of the winter British tennis season and showcases the talent of some of the best young players in the country.
Nicholas, who trains at Wrexham High Performance Academy, was one of only 16 players to be invited, having earned his place by accumulating enough ranking points from LTA tournaments throughout the winter.
He said: “It was always going to be a tough final but I fought well and am happy with my effort.
“I’ll take a lot of confidence from the whole weekend, knowing I can compete with the top players my age.
“I’m very happy with my overall performance as I have been with my form so far this year.”
Leon Smith, LTA head of men’s and women’s tennis, said: “To finish runner up at the prestigious AEGON Winter National Tour finals is a fantastic achievement for any young player and I’m sure Nicholas will build on this experience.
“The tournament brings together the best boys and girls in the country, who have been playing in this national tour circuit throughout the winter.
“Competition at a young age is vitally important in developing both the tactical and mental competitive qualities the players need to have in place as they progress and start to play internationally.
“There’s obviously a long way to go for these players. It’s a long journey for any player hoping to make an impact on the game but we hope that with the right support, these players are given the best possible chance of reaching their full potential.”