Oakley aiming for a bright end to 2015

ANGMERING-ON-SEA Lawn Tennis Club’s Keelan Oakley is hoping to end this year on a high.
Angmering-on-sea Lawn Tennis Clubs Keelan Oakley in action at an event which took place in Germany earlier this yearAngmering-on-sea Lawn Tennis Clubs Keelan Oakley in action at an event which took place in Germany earlier this year
Angmering-on-sea Lawn Tennis Clubs Keelan Oakley in action at an event which took place in Germany earlier this year

Oakley suffered a turbulent start to 2015 and did not play his first tournament of the season until July.

A back injury forced him out of action for nine months, before a resurgence in the last few weeks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Oakley brings his season to a close with a tournament in Bath, followed by three successive events in Cyprus.

Those three tournaments in Nicosia, Limasol and Larnaca are Future events and offer a prize pot of £10,000 for the winner.

Oakley is hoping for a positive end in those tournaments and said: “It would be great to finish the year on a high. I’ve got a tournament coming up in Bath before I travel to Cyprus.

“That will be a great chance for myself to push on up the rankings should I win a few matches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“You are never quite sure who will be playing in these tournaments but I’m going to go out and give it my best shot.”

Oakley, who is currently ranked 1,277 in the world, has seen his ranking fall a little following a couple of injury knock-backs.

The Angmering player did reach a career high of 997 back in August, 2014.

But a back injury forced Oakley out of action for a year and that was followed by another nine month lay-off.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, since a return in July, Oakley has managed to get through nine events.

That has pleased the Angmering talent and he is hoping to push up the rankings once again.

He added: “The ultimate aim for me is to try to get back into the top 1,000.

“Having been out for nine months, I am going into tournaments with no ranking points to defend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“That allows me a good chance to win matches and force my way back up in and around where I want to be.”

Since returning, Oakley admitted his come-back tournament at Frinton was his highlight.

The Angmering man saw off David Rice 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round, before losing 7-5, 5-7, 3-6 to Dan Evans.

Evans has played in the Davis Cup for Great Britain and reached round four in the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Oakley added: “That was a good match for me.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s always nice to test yourself against talented guys and I felt a little unlucky to lose that day but I learned a lot.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: