SENIORS SIZZLE AT GEELONG LAWN

SENIORS TENNIS A HIT

THE best of the best have marvelled at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club’s facilities at the seniors Oceania Regional Championships over the long weekend.

International players were limited due to COVID restrictions but brothers Peter and Clive Wilson, who live in Doncaster but play under the South African flag, triumphed in the 55 and over doubles.

Veterans of the tennis scene — both were ranked No 1 in Zimbabwe and Clive played Davis Cup for that country — they beat Australian pair Bruce Ferguson and Eddie Myers 6-3, 7-6.

“The club is fantastic, it’s beautiful and if I had to play here again I would,” Clive said of Geelong Lawn.

“The people are very friendly and it’s great.”

The brothers have played countless matches together over the years and while Peter admitted Clive — who plays double handed on both sides — was the better player, the pair have a strong bond.

“I just rely on him,” Peter said. “We went through a patch (decades ago) of 18 months where we didn’t lose a doubles match. We sort of know our way around the doubles court.”

Glenn Busby, who has held a stranglehold at the top of the world rankings in various age brackets on the senior circuit for more than a decade, took out the 65 years plus male singles title on Monday morning.

He defeated Stephen Dance 6-1, 6-0 on a clay court.

Busby runs a tennis academy at Kooyong and said he was impressed with the changes Geelong Lawn has made since his last visit.

“I haven’t played down here for a long time, it would be close to 30 years ago that I played in Geelong,” he said.

“It’s a great facility, they have done a great job with it.

“It seems like the people they have got in there are really on the right journey and it’s great.”

Despite having only dropped three games in his three victories on the way to the title, Busby played down his dominance over the weekend.

“I played all right this week, I am quite happy with it,” he said.

Geelong local Rob Nicholls was one of many to lift the trophy on Monday, taking out the 70 years plus doubles with Kooyong’s Andrew Rae.

Geelong Lawn Tennis Club president Bob Spurling said the club was keen to host the Oceania tournament again.

Picture: GLENN FERGUSON Andrew Rae hits a forehand during the seniors Oceania Regional Championships yesterday.

Pictures: GLENN FERGUSON Over 70s doubles champion Rob Nicholls in action at the Oceania Regional Championships; and (inset) Over 65s champion Glenn Busby.