HARLOW'S rising tennis star Bryony Hunter defied the odds to win a hat-trick of titles at the Millennium Wilson Junior Open at Highams Park in east London.

Nine-year-old prodigy Bryony, who lives in Tylney Croft and goes to Jerounds Junior School, not only won her own under-10 age category singles but also won the under-12 singles and the under-12 doubles in the tournament at the end of April.

Over 200 budding young players attended the event, from as far afield as south Wales.

Mum Debbie said: 'Bryony was absolutely thrilled to win all three titles, especially the under-12 singles where she beat a girl she had never beaten before in the final.'

In a hard-fought under-10 final, Bryony faced Francesca North from Middlesex. The Harlow girl took the first set on a tie-break, lost the second 7-5 but took the decider 6-2.

An equally close match followed in the under-12 final as Bryony took on Jennifer Rabot from Bishop's Stortford. She won the first set 6-3 but Jennifer took the second 6-2. The decider swung one way then the other before Bryony claimed victory 7-5.

In the under-12 doubles, the Harlow ace played alongside Helen Parish from Upminster as they beat two girls from Whitehall, the home club.

Bryony is no stranger to success at national level, last year she won the prestigious Powder-Byrne tournament at Wimbledon. She practises regularly at Harlow Tennis Club under the guidance of coach Will Cahert.