ROYAL South Yarra tennis player, Gemma O’Farrell has successfully defended her Kerang Lawn Tennis Club’s Easter Tournament Open women’s singles title for the third successive year.
The number one seed defeated number two seed, Ballarat player Rochelle Joyce in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 10-4 in one hour and 53 minutes on Monday.
The two met in last year’s final, when the 21-year-old comfortably defeated Joyce in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
“There is always some nervous energy across the lawn when you play in a final,” O’Farrell said.
“Compared to last year, this match was a lot tougher.
“I think I have a steady, consistent game, so I started off that way. The second set I had a lead but she came back and reached closer but I like it when it’s not close and intense. I think I play quite well under the pressure.”
O’Farrell, who competed at the tournament for a 10th year, said she played her own game against Joyce.
“She has a really good game, lots of varied slices which makes it hard to get underneath them, especially on the grass,” she said.
“We always seem to be on the opposite side of the draw, but I’m happy with that – I prefer not to play her in the first round.”
O’Farrell’s journey to the final began with a tough two-and-a-half-hour long three-set win against Kathy Buttifant 6-7(6), 6-4, 10-5, before defeating rival, Lisa Daye in straight sets 6-4, 6-0.
In the Open men’s final, Beaumaris Lawn Tennis Club’s Ryan Thomas defeated first-time finalist and number four seed, Sam Hall in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2 in 53 minutes.
Thomas also claimed the A Grade men’s doubles title, with his partner and father, Ian Thomas. The pair defeated renowned coach and long-time Kerang competitor, Larry Dempster and Nick Harrison 8-6 in Monday’s final.
“I served really well and he was really awkward through the middle,” the 30-year-old said.
“I just found a few more ways to get returns in and he gave me a few points which made it easier.
“We both play from the baseline which is abnormal for grass. Both of us just like to hit a big serve and forehand and hope it is over.”
Thomas has previously played tournaments in Warrnambool and Cobram, but returns to Kerang each year during Easter, despite lawn being his least favourable surface.
“The courts presented are in the best condition that I could remember for a while,” he said.
“The courts were a bit harder and not as many bad bounces. Lawn doesn’t rally suit me, but it is good fun because you get some free shots off serve that I normally wouldn’t get on clay.”
Thomas progressed to the second round after defeating Jason Daye – who he lost to in last year’s quarter-final – in straight sets, dropping one game in his first match of the tournament.
“Last year I tried to play but that was a bit of a nightmare. I came back from some dodgy hips and surgeries and I definitely wasn’t ready,” he said.
“Over the past three or four months I have learnt to hit a tennis ball again. I am probably enjoying my tennis more now than when I was 21,” he said.
More than 350 players converged at the Museum Drive courts for the four-day tournament, including fourth generation family members now attending.
One of the oldest players was Ian Daye, who has attended the event for the past 46 years and won the 40 and over mixed doubles and men’s doubles, as well as finishing runner-up in the 40 and over men’s singles.
Sam Hall and Ivan Kiriakov partnered to claim the Open men’s doubles title, with an 8-5 win over Andrew Rabinovich and Kapi Sivakumar.
The Open women’s doubles, which was played as a round-robin, was won by Kathy Buttifant and Lisa Daye.
Nick Harrison and Wendy Harrison claimed the Open mixed doubles final, defeating Jason Daye and Melissa Harrison 4-6, 6-2, 10-5.
In the A Grade competition, Sam Hall defeated Ivan Kiriakov 8-5 in the men’s singles, with Wendy Harrison defeating Rochelle Joyce 8-6 in the women’s.
Melissa Harrison and Wendy Harrison defeated Julie Fidler and Rochelle Joyce 8-3 in the A Grade women’s doubles, while Chris Fidler and Melissa Harrison defeated Nick Harrison and Alex Baum 8-4 to claim the A Grade mixed doubles title.
