OM OPEN 2026
The Isle of Man Open 2026 was played over 4 days at Douglas Lawn Tennis Club with the finals taking play on Sunday. With visiting players in both the Ladies and the Mens events it was going to be a challenge for the local players to get to the finals.
In the semi-finals of the Ladies No1 seed Rosie Manuja played Matilda Nathoo from Sussex. With an early break Matilda led Rosie until she dropped serve at 5/4 serving for the set. That gave Rosie the momentum and she was able to hold serve and break Matilda for a second time to take the first set. The second set also went Rosie’s way and she progressed to the final 7/5, 6/2. In the other semi-final No.2 seed Caitlin Henery took on Amy Bourbon. It was Caitlin that cruised thought the first set winning it 6/1 but Amy struck back to take the second set 6/1 setting up a 10 point championship tie-break final set which Caitlin went on to win 10-8. In the final on Sunday, it was a very close contest between two Isle of Man players Rosie and Caitlin lasting just over 2 hours. Caitlin took the first set 7/5 but Rosie returned the favour winning the second set 7/5 setting up a 3rd set Champions tie-break which Rosie won 10-5. And the final 5/7, 7/5, [10-5]. In the 3/4 playoff it was Matilda who beat Amy in another long match just under 2 hours 6/3, 6/4.
In the Mens semi-finals Magnus Benson who benefitted from the No1 seed having to withdraw in the quarters, took on Tristan Pretorius who had knocked out the No.4 seed Andrew Maxwell in the quarters with his first win over Andrew in 12 meetings. Magnus the younger of the two players at just 14 made the most of the opportunity by beating Tristan 6/2, 6/2 in a competitive match to reach the final. In the other semi-final No.2 seed Neri Gricevicius took on the No.3 seed Winston Bramley. After many long rallies it was Winston that took the first set 6/0 and although Neri fought back in the second set this also went to Winston 6/3, Winston winning the match 6/0, 6/3. In the Final, Winston originally from New Zealand but currently based in UK took on young Magnus also based in UK but originally from Isle of Man. With the first set taking over one hour with many long rallies the score got to 5-5 before Magnus dropped serve to give the opportunity for Winston to serve out for the first set which he eventually did, after great resistance from Magnus, taking the first set 7/5. In the second set Winston took an early 3-0 lead and eventually ran out the winner with the extra power he was able to apply beating Magnus 7/5, 6/1. In the 3/4 playoff it was Neri who beat Tristan 6/2, 6/4.
All the results can be found on the LTA Competition Website:
https://competitions.lta.org.uk/sport/draws.aspx...
The tournament Referee Paul Jarvis did the presentations following the completion of both finals thanking the players for taking part and the IOM LTA for staging the tournament.