EVERGREEN tennis player Joan Hassell enjoyed an ace result after leading the women’s over-75 Great Britain team to bronze at the Super Seniors event in the United States.

The 77-year-old, a member of Lexden Hill Tennis Club in Colchester, helped her team achieve international success in humid conditions on the clay courts at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Orlando.

Hassell’s team defeated Australia and South Africa before being beaten by France in their category, which was won by hosts USA.

But they were still able to finish third in stifling temperatures that reached a scorching 96 degrees.

Hassell said: “There was great camaraderie within the team – it was lovely to be there and we all enjoyed the experience.

“It was so hot that even some of the Australians who are used to that heat struggled to deal with it.

“But we excelled ourselves in the heat with some really good performances.

“There were some very good players in our age group, so we were very pleased to come away with the bronze.

“When you look back at it, I don’t think we could have done much better so it was a good performance.

“The centre we played at was an absolutely fabulous venue.”

Hassell, who lives in Claydon, near Ipswich, was part of one of 15 teams in age groups ranging from 50 to 85 to travel to the USA to represent Great Britain in the 2017 Seniors and Super Seniors ITF World Team Championships.

It is the third year she has captained the Great Britain team, who were seeded fourth in this year’s competition, having helped them to bronze last year and silver, in 2016.

“I’ve been very fortunate and I feel very proud to have played there and to have been captain,” she added.

“I’m enjoying my tennis as much as ever, playing for club, county and for Great Britain.”