TEENAGER Shannon Newnes is flying the flag for Redbridge-based Compete Tennis at the Stavanger International under-14 tournament in Norway this week.

by MIKE SIMMONDS

TEENAGER Shannon Newnes is flying the flag for Redbridge-based Compete Tennis at the Stavanger International under-14 tournament in Norway this week.

The 14-year-old, who lives in Dagenham, faces fourth seed Dara Chernyshkova in the quarter-finals, after a superb run of form to reach the latter stages.

In qualifying for the event, Newnes knocked out top seed Sophie Botham and Rebecca Sulen on her way to the main tournament.

There, she eliminated Denmark's Julie Noe in the first round 6-3, 6-3, before seeing off Rebecca Smaller 4-7, 7-6, 7-6 to reach the last 16.

Fellow Compete member Sian Green (left) also impressed at the event, reaching the second round.

After defeating second seed Anna Alexa Winkler in qualifying, the youngster beat Ida Seljevoll Skancke from Norway 6-1, 7-6 to reach the second round, but lost to Simone Alipieva 6-0, 6-1.

Both players will now pick up European Junior ranking points for the first time after their successes this week, while the duo take on Norwegians Melanie Stokke and Mina Gaarder in the doubles event.

Compete, who are based at Redbridge Sports Centre, also had two members in the boys' event, as Lewis Thompson looked good in qualifying, beating Isa Mammekgulyy from Turkmenistan 6-1, 6-4, before eventually losing to third seed Joshua Sapwell.

Oliver Bickley breezed through his first match 6-1, 6-0 against Maruis Roine from Norway, but was undone by fourth seed Oscar Pope 6-0, 6-4 to miss out on the main draw.

In a busy week for Compete, three members also took part in the AEGON British Tour event in Hull, though none made it through qualifying.

Joe Woolerton defeated Matthew Kealy 7-6, 1-6, 6-2 but went out to Joshua Bourke 6-1, 6-0 in pre-qualifying, while in the main qualifying stage, David Wright lost 6-3, 6-1 to Jonathan Binding, while Mars-hall Tutu went out to Stephen Crawshaw.