AN ADULT singles league is back at Totally Tennis - at the request of the players.

Responding to demand, the league was reintroduced in October with 34 players entered in four men's and three women's boxes.

All matches, which are arranged by the players to suit their convenience, have to be played by Christmas Day.

In men's box two, Tim Rice won his first two matches, beating both Matthew Waters and Gary Whiteside 8-5, but losing his third match to Rex Groves 7-6.

Groves' victory was short-lived as he lost 12-1 to Whiteside in his second match.

No matches have been played in box one so far.

In box three, Paul Neve has played all his matches, with three wins and one defeat to his name. He beat Raffaele Gause 10-3, Mark Grant 7-6 and Paul Jackson 10-3 before losing out to Simon French 7-6.

In the final men's box, Andy Watts was in good form, beating Andrew Wooddisse 10-3 and Peter Prouse 12-1. But he lost out to Matthew Baylis 8-5.

Wooddisse defeated Alex Kersley 8-5 and Kersley then beat Prouse 7-6.

In women's box one, Janet Prouse has won all her matches, beating Louise Dane 9-4, Emma Harding 11-2 and Emily Clark 10-3.

In box two, Francesca Grant beat Jenny Sharp 7-6 and Hannah Bareham 7-6. Janet Petto beat Grant 9-4. Suzanne Kersley defeated Grant 7-6 and Sharp 7-6.

Box three has no results so far.

Players with the most points win the box and gain promotion to the box above, while the players with the lowest score are relegated.

The overall winners of the top men's and top women's boxes will be crowned Totally Tennis singles league champions.

Head coach Shane Deacon, who organised the league, said: "We re-introduced the box leagues after demand from players and it's really great to see players who come to our coaching sessions and courses playing matches and putting into practice what they have been taught.

"For some of the players who have signed up, it's the first time they have ever played a tennis match!"

The first Wednesday of every month is adult social matchplay night between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, and anyone who wants to go along should call Totally Tennis on 01256 358816.