Tennis titles decided at Rapaura

Three previous winners, albeit with different partners, plus one first-time victor, claimed the main titles at the 2021 Rapaura Tennis Club’s New Year Doubles tournament which finished today.

Twenty-six pairings battled for the men’s title in the Wairau River Wines-sponsored event staged on the club’s well-manicured grass courts on Rapaura Rd, while 13 combinations lined up for the women’s draw.

The 2021 men's finalists, from left, Matt Lensen, Dave Sandford, Gareth Robb and Remi Feneon.

In both instances the top seeds prevailed, former winners Gareth Robb and Remi Feneon from Christchurch taking the men’s honours, while Jade Otway, who has won two previous titles, and 14-year-old Ella Sowman, who notched her first win, claimed the women’s crown.

While it was relatively plain sailing for Remi and Gareth, who beat third-seeded Dave Sandford and Matt Lensen 6-2, 6-4 in the final, the women’s final turned into a battle royal, the enthusiastic local supporters hanging on every point.

Ella Sowman sends down another backhand return in the final.

Jade, the national under-18 champion, and Ella got the job done but it took three hard-fought sets. The second seeds won the first 7-6 in a tiebreaker, lost the second 4-6 after going behind 0-3 early on, then battled superbly to take the third set and match 6-4. Their opponents were Remy Feneon’s wife Jolene and their daughter Jade, a nationally-ranked youngster.

All four players turned on a fine exhibition of tennis with 17-year-old Jade Otway’s extra class, coupled with Ella’s serving prowess and ground strokes, making the difference.

Despite letting the second set slip, both youngsters said they never lost faith. “We knew we had it in us,” said Jade, who won the title last year alongside her sister Kyla.

“Ella and I have never played together before,” she added, “but it worked out pretty well.”

Ella said when Jade made the initial approach to play together this year she was “so excited … and a little nervous. But it was so good. Jade was really supportive all the way through.”

Jade applauded the support of the local crowd, which helped them get through.

“It was pretty cool to have the home crowd on our side … it always helps and makes it a bit more fun,” she added.

In the semifinals Jade and Ella beat Suzanne Spencer and Ruth Seeman 6-1, 6-2 while the top-seeded Feneons defeated Eveline van der Linden and Renny Spruijtenburg 6-1, 6-0.

The men’s semis were contrasting, Remi and Gareth taking care of rising star Harry Pugh and top coach John Gardiner 6-2, 6-2 while Dave and Matt had to battle all the way to get the better of Lee Harborne and Andrew Forgesson 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.

Gareth, who has claimed previous titles alongside Hugo Nurse-Strang and today’s opponent, Matt Lensen, said the final was an enjoyable tussle.

“It was good watching the semi … watching [Matt and Dave] wear themselves out before they played us,” he said with a smile. “I thought they might roll over, but Matt came out with a big service game first-up and they pushed us hard, especially in the second set.”

“The atmosphere is awesome here, just having so many people around … the bar is busy most of the time, the BBQ is cranking and there are heaps of sponsors, it’s a really good vibe.”

For the big-serving Remi, who previously won the title with fellow Cantabrian Brett Williams in 2018, it was a welcome return to a tournament he has grown fond of and which turned into something of a family affair.

“We are definitely keen to come back,” he said, “it’s also a good base and nothing else on at the same time.”

The lofty player made it a double doubles triumph when he teamed with his wife to take out the Mixed Doubles tournament on Friday, seeing off Jade Otway and Blake Taylor, Tennis NZ’s tournaments and events manager, 9-6 in the final.

Twenty-two pairs contested the doubles event.