* Amateur Singles Championships 2022

Final

The Amateur final was between top seed and eight-time winner, Alex Titchener-Barrett, and third seed Rory Giddins, playing in his first Amateur final. Alex started at a sprint and served his way into a 9-0 lead in the first game. Superb rallying by both players before Rory gained the serve and started working his way slowly back into the game, and after a series of hands trialled 8-9, after a series of remarkable rallies. Rory eventually levelled and inched ahead 12-9. But Alex was able to lift his game and force his way back into the game, varying his serve to good effect and an angled drive to set up game ball which Rory failed to pick up. First game to Alex, 15/12.

The second games started tightly, but again Alex took the initiative and established a 10-1 lead. Now Rory found better length and kept Alex penned back, with steady serves levelling at 10-all. Alex won back the serve and worked his way to 13-10. Rory served an ace to 11-13 before Alex stepped in to take the service high and then served through to take the second game 15/11, and a two-love lead.

Once again, the stakes were high in the third, with the players locked on 0-all. Rory pounced first to lead a 3-0 lead. Alex recovered to 2-3, but Rory kept the ball low enough to beat the outstretch backhand of Alex to lead 4-2, before a steady run to 11-2. Alex then made a partial recovery to 5-11 and then consolidated to trail 9-11. A further point for Rory but again Alex came back and into a slender 13-12 lead with a perfect length serve to Rory’s forehand. With the court at his mercy, Alex thought he had put the ball away, only for Rory to dig out a seemingly impossible backhand to perfect length. At 13-all, Alex called a set to five. First point to Rory but then the serve changed hands repeatedly without score. Alex overturned Rory’s slender 1-0 lead to lead 2-1 himself, after two perfect serves; three points from victory. An exchange but Rory recovered serve, after being largely on the backfoot. The players were now locked on 2-1 and again the service swapped back and forth. Rory eased ahead in this tight set to five and, with perfect width, brought up game ball at 4-2. After close quarters exchange, and an ensuing short break, it was Rory who took the critical point after the let, winning the game 18/15, and was now back in the match.

Rory took real momentum in the fourth, determined to level the match, and played good length as Alex conserved his strength. An incredible 13-0 lead was Alex’s challenge. He rallied and the pair exchanged points to 14-1. Alex wasn’t giving up and made a minor recovery to 4-14. But Rory won back the serve and took the game 15/4, to level the match.

Early points for Rory in the fifth gave him a 2-0 lead. But Alex came back, levelling with low forehand winner, and on to 4-2. A close period in the match with both players evenly matched but Alex remained ahead 6-3 and then on to 8-3. But then a critical five-point run from Rory saw him level. Alex served the game’s only double fault and Rory immediately capitalised to take a 10-8 lead. But Alex again levelled to 10-all – both players now five points from the championship. A high shot from Alex was punished to give Rory the service and he confidently served through to win 15/10, and win his first Amateur Singles Championship.

Charles Hue Williams presented the famous Rackets Amateur Championship bowl, first awarded in 1888. Rory joins a long list of illustrious names on the trophy.

Final result Rory Giddins beat Alex Titchener-Barrett 12/15 11/15 18/15 15/4 15/10

Semi-finals

ATB lost the opening game against Tom Stevens and an upset appeared to be possible. However, ATB was too strong in the second game, and then breezed through the third, before winning a closely fought fourth game.

In the second semi-final, Rory Giddins started the stronger and took the first game against Mike Bailey. Mike fought back but hampered by an injury lost the second and then the tightest of games to conceded the match. Rory therefore reaches his first Amateur Singes final.

Quarter-finals

The tie of the round matched fourth and fifth seeds against one another, and it was Tom Stevens who came through a tight match, three games to one, against Mark Farmiloe. All four games were tight but it was Tom who won the first, before Mark levelled the closest game 15/14. Tom then played consistently to win two further close games and reach the semi-finals. Rory Giddins was always fancied to best the returning Alexi Prenn, as so was the case, in three games.

The following evening Alex Titchener-Barrett came from the game down to beat the rapidly emerging Julius Manton-Jones. Julius started well and secured the first game 16/14, before Alex stepped up and stormed back to take the match. In the final game, Mike Bailey was too strong for Ben Stevens, although Ben fought all the way.