Jake ready to be a smash hit

A new tennis talent is ready to emerge in the Cayman Islands. 

Jake Serpell, 7, has caught the tennis bug. He took up the sport 18 months ago and this weekend he competes in his first-ever junior PwC tournament.  

Cayman Prep pupil Jake is a contender in the tournament’s 11 and under age group. Despite being smaller, younger and less experienced than almost all his fellow competitors, Jake’s not daunted by the challenge.  

“I am looking forward to it,” Jake said. “I am expecting to be beaten, but that’s OK. It’s going to be fun.”  

Cayman Islands Tennis club pro Dale Avery is Jake’s chief coach. He states Jake has shown great skill in a short time.  

“Jake’s moved up a class and has been training with Harrison Clough and Bobby Lomax, both strong players who are a year older than him,” Avery said. “Training with them has helped him; he’s caught up with them quite quickly.  

“Jake’s made good progress, particularly over the past five months when he’s being taking the game more seriously. He’s got all the shots and when he’s bigger he’ll be a force to be reckoned with. 

“He is young, but I’ve encouraged him to play on the PwC junior circuit because he needs the experience and the match practice to help him develop.”  

Jake also impresses Avery with his excellent behaviour, “He’s a polite, easy-going kid who’s always a pleasure to have on the court.”  

Meanwhile parents Milly and Derek Serpell enjoy Jake’s enthusiasm.  

“Jake idolises Dale, he just gets Jake so inspired,” says Mrs. Serpell. “Dale’s told him if he wants to get better, he needs to practise all the time and always have a racquet in his hand. So that’s what he does: he plays against every wall in the house (there’s lots of thumping), as well as taking lessons three times a week at the Tennis Club.” 

Jake’s sporting prowess is matched by his sisters, Phoebe, 11 and Polly, 13. Both are accomplished equestrian riders with Polly being on Cayman’s national junior team that came top in a recent regional contest in Trinidad.  

This weekend’s tennis tournament, part of a year-long series sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, was meant to be held last Saturday but was postponed as a result of bad weather. It is slated to take place 1-2 October at the Ritz-Carlton courts. There are a record 19 entries in the 11U division, a sure sign that Cayman’s junior tennis is flourishing.