Ramsbury Tennis Club finals day

Spectators were treated to a display of exhilarating tennis as Ramsbury Tennis Club hosted its annual tournament finals day on Sunday 21 July 2024.

Last year’s runner up Matt Fretwell played 13-year-old county phenomenon Andrew Luo in the men’s singles.

The first set was a highly contested battle, with the formidable Luo demonstrating the skill and athleticism that have earned him widespread acclaim. His aggressive baseline play kept Fretwell on his toes. Yet by minimising errors and consistently of return, Fretwell fashioned out the first set 6-4. 

Fretwell’s experience shone through even more prominently in the second set. While Luo continued to impress with his speed and shot making, Fretwell’s ability to outlast rallies proved decisive, securing him a convincing 6-1 win to win the men’s title.

In the men’s doubles, David Langton teamed up with Sam Viravong against Chris Procter and Karl Stacey in a match of exceptional quality.

After winning the first set 6-2, Langton and Viravong faced a daunting deficit in the second with their opponents refusing to yield. On the verge of falling to 1-4, the pair mounted a dramatic comeback.

Langton and Viravong powered on to win the set 6-4 in a stunning display of resilience to be crowned men’s doubles champions.

Last year’s ladies singles champion Annabel Mackay squared off again against 15-year-old Anya Holdsworth in a rematch to defend her title.

Mackay’s profuse talent earned her the first set 6-4. But young Holdworth’s ruthless determination was clear in the second in which she overcame the more experienced Mackay 6-4 to force the championship tiebreak.

A decider in such a neck-and-neck contest was always likely to come down to one slip. At crunch time, Holdsworth edged out a hard-fought 11-9 tiebreak victory, toppling the champion in spectacular fashion. This was competitive tennis of the highest calibre with an outcome that could easily have gone either way.

“It’s surreal, I’m overwhelmed,” said the unassuming new young champion after the trophy presentation.

Annabel Mackay – refusing to let fatigue dampen her spirit – then teamed up with Clive Snashall against David Langton and Stephanie Hart. The first set saw Langton and Hart dominate with powerful serves and strategic net play without dropping a game to comfortably win 6-0.

Snashall and Mackay rallied in the second set, pushing their opponents to the limit.  Despite their valiant efforts, Langton’s and Hart’s play proved decisive, allowing them to clinch the set 6-4 to claim the match in straight sets.

This was an exciting tussle with a high level of skill and good spirit displayed by all four players. Hart’s retention of her mixed doubles title added another memorable moment to the finals day at Ramsbury Tennis Club

In a hotly anticipated repeat of last year’s showdown, the ladies doubles final again featured sisters Clare Allman and Jane McGovern against reigning champions Annabel Wade and her 12-year-old daughter Olivia. 

The sisters narrowly defeated the Wades 7-6 in the first set. Riding the wave, Allman and McGovern retained their composure in the second, triumphing 6-3 to dethrone the champions.

Despite the loss, young Olivia Wade in particular was nothing short of extraordinary. Her poise, powerful ground strokes and mature court sense belied her tender age, proving why she is considered a rising star in the local tennis community.

Plate matches

In a roundup of plate matches:

Morgan Haines beat the chairman Chris Wilson 6-3, 6-4 in the men’s singles plate

Sarah Seaman & Dominic Seaman beat Ian Annand & Martha Back 6-1, 7-5 in the mixed doubles plate

Darren Crawford & John Whitehead beat Philip Lindsell & Lee Cowan 7-5, 7-5 in the men’s doubles plate

Roger Henry Tournament

Earlier in the day, 23 pairs comprising an adult and junior competed in the inaugural Roger Henry Doubles Tournament. Winners were Bryony Beck and her son Reuben who defeated Briar Holdsworth and her son Ewan in the final.

Tournament organiser  – Neil Little assisted by Elizabeth Snelling. Trophies presented by club president Ethel Hutchings. Designated photographer Chris Snelling.