Charlotte Bardsley says she is proud to have won her first national title after battling back from the brink of semi-final elimination to take the Under-12 girls’ singles trophy on a day all four top seeds triumphed in the U11-U14 Nationals.
Woodfield TTC player Bardsley was in top form as she marched into the last four in Doncaster without dropping a set.
But the top seed found Alice Dillon a different proposition as the Lancashire player quickly opened up a 2-0 lead.
Bardsley rallied to edge a nervy third end before pulling ahead impressively to clinch the tie 3-2 (6-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5).
Her final performance against Middlesex’s Amelia Chan was full of control by comparison as she maintained a steady advantage throughout.
Having taken the first two games, the top seed let a solitary match point slip in the third before finally sealing her title in the fourth to close the event with a 3-1 (11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5) win.
“I feel really happy and proud,” said Bardsley. “I thought I was buried in the semi-final, but when I won the third set I got my confidence back and focused a bit more.
“I think to win a title you need determination, hard work and being able to listen, and I’m grateful to my coach and parents as well.”
Her final opponent Chan had previously overcome her own five-end battle in her quarter-final with Danielle Kelly but despite that win and a 3-0 semi-final triumph over Katie Holt, she was unable to match Bardsley at the final hurdle.