Competitive finals bring out the best
It was Maidstone Open finals day at Freedom Leisure Tennis Club on Sunday.
One of the best matches was the ladies’ open singles which saw Gabby Chidwick (Maidstone Tennis Academy) beat last year’s champion Summer Reeves (Freedom Leisure) 6- 4 7- 6 in just under two hours.
Roberto Melchiorre (Freedom Leisure) retained his men’s singles title with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over up-and-coming under-18 player Luca Pavan (Maidstone Tennis Academy).
Zane Cheeseman (Horsmonden) and Adrian Moll (Freedom Leisure) defended their men’s doubles crown, beating Alex Brown and Chris Smith (both Freedom Leisure) 6-2, 6- 4.
The ladies’ doubles saw Chidwick team up with Karen Thomas (Freedom Leisure) to defeat Cuomo and Sarah (Sevenoaks) 6-7, 6- 4, 10-7.
Chidwick celebrated her third title when she and Melchiorre took the mixed doubles by walkover.
In the parent and child final, Jo Moore and son Richard (Hythe) beat mother-anddaughter combination Amelia and Beatrice Fryer (Maidstone Alessia Wray Tennis Academy) 6- 0 6-2.
In the ladies’ over- 40 singles, Jane Gentle (Freedom Leisure) defeated Sue De Pledge (Bearsted) 6-1, 6- 0.
Smith was 6-1 and 1- 0 up in the men’s over- 45 singles when opponent Moll retired injured.
Anne Gibbs (Herne Bay) and Moore beat Kay Mileham and Nicola Mileham (Herne Bay) 6-1, 6- 4 in the ladies’ over- 40 doubles.
The men’s over- 45 doubles saw Jason Baker and Espen Erichsen (Tunbridge Wells) beat Tom Carling and Tony Garrett (David Lloyd Kings Hill) 6- 4, 6- 4. David Willis and Jacqueline Bowen (Sevenoaks) teamed up to beat Graham Miles (Herne Bay) and Gibbs 6- 4, 6- 4 in the mixed veterans’ doubles.
John Watton retained the men’s over-50 singles by walkover following an injury.
Tournament organisers would like to thank Freedom Leisure Club, the Maidstone & District Tennis League for sponsorship, Derek Thorpe and his team of umpires and members of ABTO.
Companies interested in sponsoring next year’s event should call Jane Gentle on 07765 017840 or email janegentle@ googlemail.com.
Alternatively, call Charlie Falconer on 07986 761065 or email cf006a3623@ blueyonder. co.uk.