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In the Men’s Restricted Singles regular C team players Paul and Adam produced a hearty battle, the first set of which could have gone either way. Having pocketed that first set Paul won the second more easily but Adam was heard to say that he still felt he had chances to win.
Angus’ victory in the Men’s Singles was a repeat of his last victory in 1997 when he also beat Guy. This year it took Guy some time to settle but after a tightly fought second set Angus emerged as the winner.
The Ladies’ Singles was an exhibition of consistency and long rallies which was just edged in straight sets by new member Annabel over regular finalist and 10 times champion Jax.
Alex and Paul paired up to win the Men’s Double Tier 2 event with a straight sets victory over Ian and Francesco. Ian reckoned that “the difference was Alex’s serve” (but don’t tell him – it’ll only go to his head!)
In the Men’s Doubles Angus and Guy teamed up to beat Mark and David in a close three setter which produced some good tennis at times but was always influenced by the fact that the players knew each others’ games so well!
The Ladies’ Doubles Tier 2 event probably produced some of the closest matches of the Championships. In an earlier round the eventual winners, Sarah and Pam, had fought out a long three setter emerging victorious 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 8-6, the match spreading over two days on two different courts, in daylight and under floodlights! Their final against Jan and Zoë was not much different except the three hours play was completed in one afternoon with the lead changing hands throughout. Jan suffered a rather winding tumble in the third set, but Sarah and Pam just got their noses over the line first.
The final of the Ladies’ Doubles was a repeat of the final of two years ago but this time Nikki and Anna took the first set with some very positive, aggressive net play to which Jax and Sue could find no answer, Nikki and Anna winning 8 games on the trot to take the first set and a 2-0 lead in the second. Gradually though experience, and an ability to mix up the content of the rallies, allowed Jax and Sue to weather the storm and to impose their game.
The Mixed Doubles was split in to three tiers and in Tier 3 the husband and wife combination of Francesco and Salla emerged victorious over Charles and Sarah and, like the Ladies Doubles, they did so from a set down and behind in the second. Young Lorenzo appeared to take the absence of both parents very much in his stride.
In Tier 2 the victors, Ollie and Patricia, also clawed their way back from a similar position and indeed came through to win against Nigel and Anna by the identical score. Looks like the decision to turn up for some early practice paid off Ollie! This was a pleasing victory for Patricia as our erstwhile Junior Liaison Officer has now left the club to join Jan-Paul in Atlanta.
The Mixed Doubles final was a repeat of several previous year’s finals and, despite lots of entertaining and typical ‘mixed doubles’ rallies, David and Jax never really got going and Mark and Sue managed to win most of the crucial points to emerge as winners.
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