Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru
The Federation of Disability Sport Wales (FDSW) is a pan-disability National Governing Body of Sport Which aims to promote and develop quality sports opportunities
Cwmbran ace Philip makes world top 100 breakthrough
Cwmbran’s 15-year-old tennis star Philip Cochrane has earned his first senior world top 100 ranking after reaching the men’s singles second round at last week’s North East Wheelchair Tennis Tournament in Sunderland.
The second British-based world ranking event on the 2009 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour saw Llantarnam-based Cochrane beat his higher-ranked Lancashire opponent Tony Knappett 7-5, 6-3 in the first round, earning himself enough world ranking points to jump from 107 last week to a career high of No 94 in this week’s latest world rankings published by the International Tennis Federation.
Cochrane’s progress at the ITF 3 Series event in Sunderland was halted in the second round by Scotland’s tournament third seed and defending champion Gordon Reid, who went to retain his title on Sunday. Reid is the current world No 1 ranked junior, while Cochrane is ranked No 3 in the world junior rankings, but the South Wales player’s breakthrough in to the world’s top 100 in the senior rankings is a significant breakthrough in his quest to become a future Paralympic medallist.
Cochrane has his eyes on earning selection for the London 2012 Paralympics, but in the shorter term he has a target of reaching the world’s top 60 before the end of 2009. An even more short term aim is the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Gloucester at the end of May. Two years ago Cochrane was the youngest winner of the men’s second draw singles at the National Championships, while he is also the youngest Briton to have ever achieved a senior men’s singles world ranking.
Commenting is closed for this article.
