National champ Ruth in line for Fed Cup spot

TENNIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

RUTH Copas made it a happy new year’s eve when she netted the Irish Ladies National title with a 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 win over world number 811 Karola Bejenaru from Romania.

The Dundalk star was second seed and lived up to her billing in the early rounds defeating Shauna O’Keefe 6-1, 6-3 and Irish U-18 champion Shauna Heffernan 6-3, 6-3.

She then dispatched Carragh Courtney 7-6, 6-1 in the semi-finals to seal her place in the decider.

Copas went into the final as the underdog with Bejenaru currently competing on the professional ladies tour and boasting a number of previous wins over Ruth.

And it wasn’t looking good when Copas lost the first set 1-6 and trailed 2-5 in the second.

However, her true grit and will-towin kept the oxygen flowing and she managed to turn the second set around before going on to win the title after a marathon three hours play.

Copas, who is currently on a full time scholarship at the university of New Mexico will move up to number one in the Irish rankings as a result of the victory and is sure to be considered for a position on the next Irish Fed Cup panel which comprises of the top four Irish ladies.

Ruth (20) who developed her game at the Dundalk Tennis Academy under former pro John McGahon, was also a junior Irish national champion and internationally ranked junior player.

The academy based at Dundalk has built a pathway for players like Ruth who wish to pursue their dream of competing on the international stage, through creating a link with colleges in the US and developing a unique training environment that attracts top players nationwide.

Elsehwere, in the junior indoors national section, Dundalk enjoyed an amazing representation for a single club with Zara Burns (12), Emmet Marchat (12), Ciara Gragham (14), Nina Hjalmers (14), Devon Callan (15), Michael McLoughlin (14), Cathal Butler (15), Jack Hudson (15), Anna Jones (16), Anna Mai Mullen (15), Gene Murtagh (16) and Sophie Murtagh (15).

Marie Perla Biansumba (16) and Freddy Murray(14) were the players who stood out with Biansumba reaching the semi-finals of the girls U18 section losing 6-4, 7-6 to Carragh Courtney. Murray was runner-up in the boys U14 section where he was defeated in a three hour marathon by Zach Murphy from Cork 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.