Haverfordwest Tennis Club News:

Wrexham continues to be a happy hunting ground for Jeremy Cross, who last week reclaimed the British Open Masters Indoor Championships title he won in 2024.

Competing in the men’s over 50s singles category for the first time, Cross from Haverfordwest Tennis Club, was seeded fourth.

After a first-round bye, Cross defeated Nick Baglin in the round of 16 in what he admits was his hardest match of the championship.

Baglin had been a contemporary of Tim Henman who once played in the Australian Open and Queens qualifying, but Cross showed his class to triumph 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Cross needed only two sets to beat Antony Heljula in the quarter-final (6-4, 6-1) before meeting the top seed Nigel Birkett in the last four. Cross recovered from losing the first set 6-2 to take the second and third 6-3, 6-2.

A familiar face awaited in the final, last year’s doubles partner Hafeez Hameed and despite Cross winning 6-4, 6-2, the battle lasted almost two hours.

A delighted Cross said: "It's my seventh national title and my first in the over 50s so hopefully I can win a few more soon while I'm still the spring chicken of my age group!

"My result in Wrexham should also qualify me for the GB team to play the World Championships in Rome in June which will be the highlight of my tennis year.

“It's been a challenge with our weather and lack of indoor courts this winter, so I've focused more on physical training which actually helped get me through some of the longer matches this week.

“However, a big thanks when I have played goes to my practice partners at Haverfordwest Tennis Club, head coach Tom Richards and my son William, as well as to the rest of my family and the whole club for their ongoing support.”