PHOTOS:
Luke in baseline action
Luke Dixon
Luke serving

 
When Luke Dixon won the Men’s Singles recently at the Pembrokeshire County Championships in Haverfordwest it was the eighth year in succession that he had come out on top as proof of his commitment and sheer class that keeps him ahead of the other tennis players.
 
Luke would shy away from any fuss about his success because he is a modest young feller but there is no doubt that he currently has a tweezer -grip on county tennis silverware because he also won the Men’s  Doubles with Matthew Brady and the Mixed Doubles with Sarah Keogh.
 

A young champion

 
Luke first won the singles title in 2006 as a 15 year old when he beat his old rival Tom Richards in two straight sets, and became the youngest-ever player to win the men’s singles to take that record from Geraint John, who is now a top rugby coach in Canada. He had never beaten Tom in junior competition but won that year and the next, and has also beaten him twice since, alongside other previous successes against Andrew Miller (twice), Owen Habens and Chris Mayhew.
 

Doubles successes and trophies galore

 
After winning the men’s doubles in 2006 with Tom Richards, he’s been winner on four occasions with Mark Thompson, and after a two-year gap was back on the podium this year with Matthew Brady. It’s a similar story of success in the mixed doubles because he has won it once with Natalie O’Brien and after being without a partner in 2007 has won six titles with Sarah Keogh.
This means he already has 21 titles to his name – and is still only 23 so goodness knows how many more titles he could acquire if he stays in the area!
 

Early start and a warm welcome

 
Luke set out in tennis at Barn Street VC, where they played short tennis in the school hall, using small racquets and sponge balls - and he won the schools’ competition for 10 year olds before losing in the Dyfed Finals to a private school in Llanelli.
 
When he made the short journey to join Haverfordwest Tennis Club he was made welcome at Monday evening coaching and quickly settled in. But there was no instant success in terms of winning tournaments, although he did join Andrew Richards as champions in the doubles of one competition. But he gained vital experience at tournaments like Langland Bay on the Gower, where people travelled from far and wide – and he was delighted when he won the Junior Competition – Junior Eight category – in Cardiff, as well as some competitions in Llanelli.
 

School success

 
He also became part of the STP School team of four that included Chris Speake, Tom and Daniel Richards, and run by Med Richards, which won the Welsh Schools’ title before bowing out in the quarter final of the British. When he entered the county senior tournament, however, there was no instant success there either because in his first year he lost in the quarter finals to Richard Price.
 

Brilliant support

 
Ask Luke about support and he would be quick to answer.
“My parents Alison and Richard are both involved in tennis and have always given me every encouragement and chauffeured me everywhere.
“Mum is a level One coach and coaches the club’s juniors and dad plays tennis socially, whilst my older brother Jason is a Level Two coach and an excellent green bowler who has done very well indeed in that sport.
Luke was given lots of help by Osian Williams, who was a tennis development officer with Sport Pembrokeshire, plus Mr Richards in school, and he enjoys helping out with some of the new group of talented young players springing up across the county. He coaches individuals on a regular basis and also helps as a ‘hitting partner’ where his role is to feed the young opponent with specific shots that will help with an all-round development.
 

College days

 
Luke stopped travelling so much ‘up the line’ during his time of study for national exams before going to Cardiff University and picking up his mathematics degree. Whilst there he played for the university and admits that it was a higher standard.
“We played regularly against the likes of Aberystwyth, UWIC, Swansea and a couple of English Universities and I was pleased that in the second year I became the No 1 seed for the college and I learned a lot against some very experienced opponents.”
 
Luke can still learn, however, because when he played Bleddyn Bird, after he reached the semi-final of the Welsh Championships, he looked a cert to make the final as he led the No 4 seed by a set and had a service break in the second set on a clay court. But then there was a hold-up because of rain and it was decided that the match would be completed indoors – and Luke found it hard going against an opponent playing on home territory – and bowed out of the competition.
 

And finally . . .

 
So what of the future for Luke in terms of tennis?
“I still love playing and will carry on for as long as I enjoy it. I also love coaching and so I plan to stay in the game wherever work takes me. I have been lucky to have been well looked after by my family and others so I aim to put something back into the sport.”
It’s a smashing sentiment from a very talented, but extremely modest young tennis player and local tennis will be in good hands with champions like Luke Dixon involved and setting the example for young players!