Miller wins Hat Open women’s title
Keep it steady and simple. That was Erika Miller’s mantra Sunday afternoon at the Medicine Hat Tennis Club, and it paid off with a Medicine Hat Open women’s singles championship.
“It was grueling, to say the least. Xaiojiang (Dai) is a formidable opponent. She keeps the ball in play and you have to work really hard out there,” said Miller, who defeated Dai in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. “It's easy to kind of get stuck, so I have some keywords and think about some things but not too much.”
While Miller dropped the opening set of the championship match she managed to dig in her heels and force a third before running away with the title, following up her championship at the City Singles Tournament earlier this season.
“I started really focusing on my serve,” said Miller. “I tried to get it working instead of digging holes and trying to find my way out.”
Miller went on to clinch the women’s doubles title as well, alongside partner Tracy Heller. Miller and Heller took the doubles title in straight sets over Linda Norris and Corrine Peters, 6-4, 6-0.
Calvin Heller took home the open division championship with a narrow straight sets win over Sidney Ebio, 6-2, 7-6, as well as the men’s doubles title alongside Jin Shin. The duo earned the doubles crown with a three-set win over Boris Holan and Trevor Riddell, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
Terry Kennedy won the men’s intermediate title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Lyle Garrecht, while Quinlan McElroy-O’Driscoll won the consolation side in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 battle against Messele Fenabil.
Dawn Olson won the women’s consolation championship with a straight sets victory over Dannan McElroyO’Driscoll, 6-3, 6-3. Riley Danroth took the Open consolation title with a 7-6, 6-4 win over Doug Thomas while Larry Dickhaut and Gary Pigula defeated Ryan Comeau and Lydell Wenzel, 6-1, 4-6, 61 to win the men’s doubles consolation championship.
The Medicine Hat Open continues with the mixed doubles tournament, Sept. 810 at the Medicine Hat Tennis Club.