Onslow Village Tennis Club
Finals Day 19 September 2020
History was made at another excellent Club Finals Day which was different in so many ways.
We delayed the finals for two months because of the COVID restrictions, and with the new Rule of Six regulations biting we were unable to offer the traditional barbecue, bar or high tea. But that didn’t stop a tremendous number of members and families turning out to support the finalists – most with picnics, some with dogs - which along with glorious weather all contributed to a terrific club atmosphere.
They were treated to some wonderful tennis with five finals in the main draw, three more in the plate and several new faces picking up trophies.
Pride of place must go to Sofia Sperandei, who at 14 years old became our youngest-ever singles champion. Sofia trains at OVLTC with coach Petr Kucera and is already one of the club’s hardest hitters! She took on perennial champion Pauline McFadden in the ladies’ final, and early on it looked as if Pauline’s ability to keep the ball in play against Sofia’s thumping shots would bring her an 18th singles title.
Pauline took advantage of Sofia’s nervy start to take a 3-0 lead. But with the youngster gaining in confidence and finding the lines she fought back to take the first set 6-3. And even Pauline’s dogged resistance was broken in the second as Sofia unleashed a barrage of winners to take the title 6-3,6-1.
After 31 titles in singles, doubles and mixed this is the first time since 2002 that Pauline’s name will not feature on the club honours board. End of an era? Don’t bet on it!
It was Sofia’s second title of the day. Earlier she’d teamed up with Mum Sandra Milicevic to win the ladies’ doubles against another mother and daughter combination, Angela Arican and Steph Austin.
Sandra and Sofia took the first set 6-3 but Angela and Steph won the second 6-1. In a topsy-turvy deciding set Sandra and Sofia let a 4-1 lead slip, trailed 5-4, and led again 6-5 before Sandra was broken to force a championship tie-break. That went the way of Sandra and Sofia, taking it by 10 points to 5 to secure the title 6-3,1-6,7-6
In the men’s event Jimmy Philpott won his fourth singles title by beating Tom Collins. It was a contrast in styles – Tom forcing the pace and Jimmy living up to his nickname of “The Wall” by chasing down every ball. A high quality affair, full of long exhausting rallies, hinged on a series of errors by Tom in the sixth game. Jimmy won that to take a 4-2 lead, and didn’t drop another game to run out a 6-2,6-0 winner.
Peter Gunn, who joined the club last Autumn, and Mum Eve, who joined during lockdown, were more first timers in the mixed doubles final. Few gave them much chance against Tom Collins – one of three finals for him on a busy day – and girlfriend Hannah Lunn.
Hannah and Tom won the first set 6-3. But Eve and Peter had got to the final by winning four rounds – and every one of them a marathon three-setter. They weren’t going to give up without a fight, and duly fought back to level things up when Hannah, trailing 6-5, was broken.
In a close third set Hannah and Tom managed to keep their noses in front and Tom served it out to take the title 6-3,5-7,6-4.
Tom’s day ended with another three-setter in the men’s doubles final. Partnering Dan Hockley he was out for revenge after his singles defeat against Jimmy Philpott and Simon Perrin.
In a match full of superb rallies Tom and Dan won the first set without much bother 6-2. But Jimmy and Simon’s competitive spirit kicked in and they took the second set 6-3. Another three set final was probably the last thing Tom needed and as he began to wilt Jimmy and Simon seized the initiative to win 2-6,6-3,6-2.
As well as the five finals in the main draw there were also three plate finals for those knocked out in the opening round.
In the women’s doubles Margaret Bennett and Mary-Anne Mackenzie got the better of Carole Lee and Sally Platt 6-2,7-5 – though they needed six match points to get the job done!
In what our chairman Paul Mortlock insists was the feature event of the day he was up against Aeron Miles in the men’s singles. Aeron turned his ankle twice in the match, but struggled through the pain, he squandered four match points in the deciding set allowing Paul to come back, winning 3-6,6-4,7-5 in two and a half hours.
There was no respite for Aeron as he then had to play in the men’s doubles, joining regular hitting partner Siu Fai Yuen against Hasan Ozkaya and another new member Tony Hannallah. That went the distance as well, but a 6-0,1-6,6-4 victory made Aeron’s efforts worthwhile.
FULL RESULTS
Ladies’ Singles: Sofia Sperandei beat Pauline McFadden 6-3,6-1
Men’s Singles: Jimmy Philpott beat Tom Collins 6-2,6-0
Ladies’ Doubles: Sandra Milicevic and Sofia Sperandei beat Angela Arican and Steph Austin 6-3,1-6,7-6
Men’s Doubles: Jimmy Philpott and Simon Perrin beat Tom Collins and Dan Hockley 2-6,6-3,6-2
Mixed Doubles: Hannah Lunn and Tom Collins beat Eve Gunn and Peter Gunn 6-3,5-7,6-4
Ladies’ Plate Doubles: Margaret Bennett and Mary-Anne Mackenzie beat Carole Lee and Sally Platt 6-2,7-5
Men’s Plate Singles: Paul Mortlock beat Aeron Miles 3-6,6-4,7-5
Men’s Plate Doubles: Aeron Miles and Siu Fai Yuen beat Hasan Ozkaya and Tony Hannallah 6-0,1-6,6-4.
Many thanks to everybody who contributed to a great tournament and Finals Day – players, umpires and spectators – and especially to tournament director Dan Hockley who organized the draw and trophies and relentlessly bullied everyone to get their matches played on time!
Looking forward to next year’s Finals Day already – hopefully back in its traditional mid-July slot.
Neil Bowker
20.09.20