tennis Fixture

European Open 2011

European Open

The European Open€tournament was once again played at Lords, this year in conjunction with the charity, Afghan Connection. This years event saw€an exciting field compete, with the return of (ex world number 2) Tim Chisholm, and new kid on the block (and rackets World Champion!) James Stout.€ These,€along with British number 1 Bryn Sayers, the ever improving Ben Matthews, and of course, a 10 time World Champion, ensured€the competition would be fierce from the outset!
€
€All 6 seeds progressed to the quarter finals with strong first round performances. The first upset of the tournament€came when€Tim Chisholm defeated higher ranked Ben Matthews in 4€enthralling sets. The semi finals saw Rob Fahey take on James Stout.€ Rob, as ever, was too strong and after some fantastic tennis, and retrieving skills Rob won through 3 sets to 0.€In the second semi final€Bryn Sayers€took on the returning€Tim Chisholm.€ Tim had an incredible start, and reminded everyone why he was, and is, still a threat by€taking the first set 6-1 with a superb display.€ However it wasn't to be (this time!) for Tim as Bryn€wore him down€with his€consistently high level of€play and took the 2nd semi final 3 sets to 1 and booked himself a place€in the final for the first time in this event.

In the final, Bryn raced to a set lead, taking the first set 6-3. His target hitting and solid floor play was too much for Fahey, who was€comparatively slow out of the blocks. The second set saw Rob dig deep as Bryn kept pressing. Rob began to hold his own and at 3 all showed why he has won so many titles in the past by winning the next 9 games to take the 2nd set 6/3 and the 3rd 6/0 with a faultless display of precision tennis! The World Champion in full flow, and hitting his cut volley with crisp accuracy kept Bryn under pressure, proving too much to handle. Would the 4th set take Rob to a 5th European Open or would level it out at 2 sets all for Bryn. Rob led the whole way but only by a game each time. Some terrific rallies and some of the finest tennis yet. Each Player hitting a tighter shot than the last until€5-5 in the 4th! The World Champion showed his dominance in these tight games with some strong tennis to lead 40-0. It seemed all over, but Bryn dug in deep and point at a time saved three match points and kept his chances alive. Countless dueces go by as the crowd were on the edge of their seats. In total Bryn saved 8 match points and Rob saved 4 set points. Rob clinched the 9th match point with a trademark cut volley that has punished his opponents time and time again!
€
Rob Fahey defeats Bryn Sayers 3/6 6/3 6/0 6/5

Report by Claire Vigrass€

€	€	€ €
€	€	€
€	€	€
€ €	€ €
€

€Photo gallery by Matt Bright