Congratulations to OL Simon Childs (1999-2006), whose professional tennis career has got off to a great start. The following press release was issued on the LTA website on 31 October 2006.

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First pro title for Childs

Buckinghamshire teenager Simon Childs won his first professional men’s doubles title in Mexico last weekend.

The 18-year-old from Iver teamed up with Iceland’s Arnar Sigurdsson to capture the Monterrey Futures title. The English-Icelandic combination edged out Swiss Alexander Sadecky and Croat Franco Skugor 7-6, 6-4 in the final.The duo had gone close to a title a week earlier in Mazatlan when they reached the semi-finals of another Futures event.

Simon has shown real character, guts and determination to win his first doubles title and also gain an ATP singles ranking. The youngster has enjoyed a breakthrough six-week tour of South America where he also gained his first ATP singles ranking point when he won a round at the Mexican clay-court Los Mochos Futures tournament.
 
Childs only turned professional in September and is based at the FIT Academy in Halton Village, Buckinghamshire.
 
FIT Academy director Shane Fone said: "I am very impressed with Simon’s performance in Mexico. This was his first trip away since going full-time in September and he went by himself. I strongly believe that a player’s true character comes out when there’s no one there to watch them. Simon has shown real character, guts and determination to win his first doubles title and also gain an ATP singles ranking."

Childs is back in action at the Redbridge Futures event next week before leaving for more ITF events in Africa.

www.lta.org.uk/Newsroom/GeneralNews/061031Childs