Neptune British Open 2013
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Singles Final :A magnificent feast of real tennis was laid on at Queen’s on Monday night by last year’s British Open winner Brit Bryn Sayers and Aussie Steve Virgona. Bryn had miraculously beaten the World Champion Rob Fahey in the semi-final having been two sets to love down and 5/0 down in the third set. He managed to save three match points and several more in the ensuing games, clinching the fourth and fifth sets to set up his appearance in the Final. His extraordinary houdini act must have taken it out of him as he was slow to start in the first two sets with several dark looks flashed at bad bounce-providing walls. One two-fisted back hand half volley that powered into the dedans was a rare highlight. At 3-3, Virgona won two games quickly and after an incredible ‘rest’, took the first set 6/4. Sayers held Virgona to 3-3 in the second set but Steve’s consistency and aggression resulted in another 6/4 scoreline. Bryn looked out of sorts. Could he get back into the match? He emphatically answered the question with a 6/0 whitewash in the third- his giraffe type serve from mid court was as successful as any seen by your correspondent at Queens over the years, not giving left hander Steve the opportunity to run round his back hand and smash it into the dedans. The match really came to life in the fourth set with both players on top of their game- at 5-4 up Bryn emphatically finished the set with a thundering volley into the winning gallery. So at 2-2, could Bryn continue to dominate? Sadly Steve’s determination not to be the bridesmaid again after years of finals against Fahey told... As he upped his game, Bryn reverted to his earlier introspection and complaints about some of the bounces he was suffering. Bryn’s serve was not as tight and Steve was pasting his serve off the main wall into the dedans. At 3-0 down Bryn clawed back a game- were we to witness another Sayers- inspired miracle? A sage in the dedans continued his prediction of ‘6/4 in the fifth’. After an outrageous ‘get’ Steve went to 5-1 but his opponent refused to yield winning a second game. At 30-40 down and a half yard chase he peppered no less than four consecutive shots at the dedans, the last of which Virgona couldn’t keep out. But it was all too little too late. Steve Virgona cruised to a 6/2 final set victory thanks to his consistency, variety of serve which restricted Bryn’s attacking qualities and effective return of any slightly loose serves. As they say it was a shame one of them had to lose after such a wonderful display of athleticism and skill as well as displaying excellent behaviour on court, monitored as ever by Andrew Lyons at the net. It was refreshing to hear some magnanimous and self effacing Aussie comments in Steve’s award acceptance speech! A bonus for the spectators was the announcement by Robin Geffen of Neptune of a four year extension to his sponsorship of real tennis. Report by Sir Andrew Hamilton
The Doubles Final : another five set classic. However, on this occasion the world champions, Rob Fahey and Steve Virgona, were unable to contain the new pairing of Tim Chisholm and Bryn Sayers. Tim and Bryn snatched the first set 6/5; Rob and Steve responded winning the second 6/4 and then the third 6/5; before Bryn and Tim regained parity taking the fourth 6/4. With everything level it was the new team who romped home playing some unforgettable Tennis in the fifth and claim the British Open title.
Singles semi-finals: A fabulous comeback from never-say-die Bryn Sayers to maintain the dream of defending his British Open title. After a first tight set which saw Rob Fahey mainly in control, the second set was emphatic to give Rob a two set lead 6/4 6/1. Rob continued into the third to lead 5-0 but Bryn dug deep to claw back the set, via a match point at 1-5 and two more at 2-5. A tense fourth saw Bryn level the match two sets all and then it was Bryn who led 3-0 in the fifth. Rob levelled to 3-3 then they traded games to 4-4, but it was Bryn who finished the stronger clinching the final two games and his ticket into the final. The second semi-final was perhaps more straightforward with Steve Virgona always taking the all-important third set 6/5 with Tim Chisholm fighting all the way. Steve then eased home 6/2 to set up the final with local professional Bryn Sayers.
Doubles Semi-finals : Sunday afternoon saw the first semi-final stop in the second game as Chris Chapman suffered a dislocated shoulder, providing Tim Chisholm and Bryn Sayers with passage to the final. They will play world champions, Rob Fahey and Steve Virgona, who secured there place with a comprehensive three set win.
Charlie Braham also received his award of a Racket for the best performance by a junior. At the age of 16, Charlie has a handicap of 15 and also won the British U18 Championship.
Monday 25th
Singles Final
6pm Steve Virgona (2) bt Bryn Sayers (3) 6/4 6/4 0/6 5/6 6/2
Tuesday 26th
Doubles Final
Tim Chisholm & Bryn Sayers bt Rob Fahey & Steve Virgona 6/5 4/6 5/6 6/4 6/0
Earlier Rounds
Sunday 17th
Craig Greenhalgh bt James Coyne 6/3 6/5 6/3
Peter Wright bt Lewis Williams 6/5 6/3 6/5
Jon Dawes bt Neil Mackenzie 6/1 4/0 ret.
Conor Medlow bt Andy Fowler 6/4 6/2 4/6 6/3
Rod McNaughtan bt Scott Blaber 6/2 6/3 6/2
Monday 18th
David Watson/Lewis Williams bt Craig Greenhalgh/Miles Jackson 6/5 6/4 6/5
Andrew Lyons/James Male bt Adam Phillips/Matty Ronaldson 6/2 6/1 6/0
John Lumley/Conor Medlow bt Will Burns/Jon Dawes 6/2 6/2 6/5
Jamie Douglas/Peter Wright bt Rod McNaughtan/Matthieu Sarlangue 6/5 5/6 6/2 1/6 6/4
Tuesday 19th
John Lumley bt Miles Jackson 6/4 6/2 6/3
Matthieu Sarlangue bt Will Burns 5/6 6/1 6/4 6/3
Drew Lyons bt Tom Durack 6/2 6/1 5/6 6/4
Ben Matthews (5) bt Rod McNaughtan 6/5 6/2 6/4
Chris Chapman (8) bt Conor Medlow 6/4 2/6 6/1 6/1
Ricardo Smith (7) bt Peter Wright 6/2 6/2 6/3
Wednesday 20th
Bryn Sayers (3) bt Craig Greenhalgh 6/2 6/0 6/0
Rob Fahey (1) bt John Lumley 4/6 6/1 6/2 6/1
Kieran Booth (6) bt Drew Lyons 5/6 6/4 6/1 6/1
Tim Chisholm (4) bt Matthieu Sarlangue 6/4 6/5 6/5
Steve Virgona (2) bt Jon Dawes 6/4 6/0 6/3
Thursday 21st
Quarter-finals
Bryn Sayers (3) bt Ricardo Smith (7) 6/1 6/1 6/1
Rob Fahey (1) bt Kieran Booth (6) 6/4 6/1 6/1
Tim Chisholm (4) bt Chris Chapman (8) 6/3 6/2 6/2
Steve Virgona (2) bt Ben Matthews (5) 6/4 6/3 4/6 6/1
Friday 22nd
Quarter-finals
Fahey/Virgona (1) bt Watson/Williams 6/1 6/0 6/0
Booth/Chapman (4) bt Lyons/Male (5) 2/6 6/1 6/2 6/4
Chisholm/Sayers (2) bt Douglas/Wright 6/1 6/1 4/6 6/0
Matthews/Smith (3) bt Lumley/Medlow (6) 4/6 4/6 6/1 6/0 6/3
Saturday 23rd
Semi-finals
Bryn Sayers (3) bt Rob Fahey (1) 4/6 1/6 6/5 6/3 6/4
Steve Virgona (2) bt Tim Chisholm (4) 6/2 4/6 6/5 6/2
Sunday 24th
Semi-finals
Chisholm/Sayers (2) bt Booth/Chapman (4) 1/0 retired
Fahey/Virgona (1) bt Matthews/Smith (3) 6/2 6/3 6/0