Claire Vigrass today confirmed her no.1 ladies' world-ranking by beating arch-rival, and fellow Briton, Karen Hird (Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court) 6/1, 6/4 at the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club, Australia, to become, at 20, the youngest-ever Ladies' World Open Singles champion. Yesterday (Friday, 13th May) Claire and her elder sister Sarah, 23, defeated Hird, 22, and her partner Rosie Snell (Royal Melbourne) 6/2, 6/1 to clinch the Ladies' World Open Doubles Championship (see http://blog.rmtc.com.au/ for details).

Earlier this month, Claire and Sarah successfully defended their Australian Ladies' Open singles and doubles titles.

In April, Claire retained her British Ladies' Open Singles title by beating Sarah 6/1, 6/4 (see http://www.tennisandrackets.com/IndividualNewsArticle.aspx?id=578 for details).

Both Claire and Sarah are members of Prested Hall Real Tennis Club, Feering (see http://www.prested.co.uk/products.asp?step=2&id=44&pstring=2,44 for details), and were encouraged to take up the sport, as teenagers, by their father, Chris Vigrass, who is Chairman of the Club's Committee.

Claire's contact details are:- Mobile - 07890447708 Email - claire_vigrass1@hotmail.com Further information is also available from:- Ricardo Smith Head Professional Prested Hall Real Tennis Club Mobile - 07745683628 Landline - 01376570220 Email - prestedtennis@gmail.com Based on information supplied by Alix Barfett.