IPSWICH's Ashley Watling has progressed to the second round of the boys' doubles at Junior Wimbledon.The 18-year-old and his partner Dominic Hodgson progressed from the first round after saving match point in an epic tie against fellow British pairing Niall Angus and Michael Thompson.

Stuart Watson

IPSWICH's Ashley Watling has progressed to the second round of the boys' doubles at Junior Wimbledon.

The 18-year-old and his partner Dominic Hodgson progressed from the first round after saving match point in an epic tie against fellow British pairing Niall Angus and Michael Thompson.

Although Watling has never played in competition with Hodgson before, he knew his partner, as well as both of his opponents, due to the fact that all four of them are currently on the same academy at Bisham Abbey.

Having lost the first set 6-4, Watling and Hodgson found themselves 5-4 down and facing serve, however, at 40-30 down and facing match point, the duo ground out the point in a long rally to save deuce.

Playing on Court 14, Watling and his partner went on to level at 6-6, comfortably win the tie break 7-1 before taking the deciding third set 6-4.

Watling and Hodgson, who were wild card entrants to the first round, will now play the Australian pairing of Alex Sanders and Mark Verryth in the second round today.

The former Ipswich Sports Club player said: “The crowd went wild when we saved the second set and the court was pretty packed by the third. We just went for it and our plan will be exactly the same in the next round.”

Watling, who was handed a wild card entry to Junior Wimbledon, was knocked out in qualifying of the singles competition after being handed a tough draw against Canadian and No.2 seed Milos Raonic, the Suffolk youngster losing 6-3, 7-6.