Lexden Hill Tennis Club member Joan Hassell has returned an ace result after being crowned a world champion - at the age of 75.

The club’s ladies doubles Premier League regular is celebrating after winning a superb three medals at the ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships, in Croatia.

Hassell, who has been a member at Lexden Hill for six years, captained the Great Britain over-75 team at the event.

And after partnering Jean Porter, the duo became world ladies double champions after winning gold without dropping a set.

Hassell also won bronze in the individual championships and helped Great Britain secure a silver medal, to cap a hugely successful performance.

Hassell, who lives near Claydon in Suffolk, said: “It was an absolutely wonderful experience in Croatia and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I don’t think I’ve had a better tennis achievement and I’ve waited until the age of 75 to achieve it!

“To win gold in the doubles was fantastic, especially as I’d never played with my partner before.

“She’s a very good, experienced player and she played very well in the final.”

In the individual championships, Hassell played in the singles and eliminated the number three seed in the second round.

She made it to the semi-finals where she took on German number one seed Nanda Fischer.

Despite having set points in the first set she lost 7-5, 6-1, but was able to secure a bronze medal.

She said: “It was particularly pleasing to win bronze in the singles, especially as I’d had golfer’s elbow over the summer which had stopped me from practising singles.”

The Great Britain squad produced some excellent results in the group stages, beating Ukraine, South Africa and Germany to win the group and progress to a semi-final with France.

It was a tight match with both singles going to three sets and both sides winning one but Great Britain won the doubles and a place in the final against USA.

The Americans proved too strong but the silver medal was above all expectation for Great Britain.

“The Great Britain squad went out to Croatia as fourth seeds and it was satisfying to beat the likes of Germany to make it through to the final,” added Hassell, who has represented Great Britain five times.

“We played a very strong USA in the final but it was great to get the silver medal.”

Hassell, who played and won her first tennis tournament at the age of 14, has travelled all over the world playing tennis.

Her next big competition is likely to be the British Open Seniors Championships, which take place in Dudley at the beginning of next year.