It’s a beautiful spring day up in the bustling metropolis of Manchester as play of the Ladies 2007 World Championships begins. The hospitable Manchester Tennis & Racquet Club, with its traditional Skittle Alley, Real Tennis, Racquets and Squash courts, is the venue with generous sponsorship from Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, CTP, Pol Roger, Wineflow and PZ Cusson. Unfortunately due to injury Sara Metherell and Caroline Gilmore withdrew before the tournament began, and a number of the seeds are harbouring existing ailments, which will require them to play through the pain if they want to fulfil their potential.

Will the more mature seeds be able to hold their bodies together or will the younger seeds keep their heads to win through? The stage is set for a humdinger of a tournament.

Mondays play was fairly predictable with two matches standing out as the ones to watch. With only 3 points between them the meeting between Tiffany Fielden v Viveca Stewart had the potential to go either way, add to this the fact that it was the first match of the tournament and that both are members of the club, though had never played each other before, the stage was set for a riveting start. Tiff managed to hold her own but it took the full three sets and a close score line of 4/6 6/3 6/4 before she was victorious.

The second match with potential was the Sally Grant v Jill Newby encounter, could the ever-determined Jill Newby topple the extremely experienced, but increasingly creaky Sally Grant? At the end of the day the answer was no, though it was a tightly fought match, but Jill was unable to capitalise on a few chances eventually loosing 6/4 6/5.

And so to the start of day two with the Vigrass sisters starting off the day: one hoping for an upset (Claire v Kate Leeming) the other hoping to hold their own (Sarah v Aldona Greenwood). First up was Sarah, as the number seven seed the pressure was on her, though there is little to choose between them on handicap. Sarah managed to win through though it took three sets of exciting play before she was victorious 6/1 4/6 6/0. Next up younger sister Claire, did she have the wherewithal to beat the very experienced Australian professional Kate, or were Kate’s feet and knees going to keep going a little bit longer after their gruelling week down at Seacourt in the British Open? Claire played beautifully and gained valuable experience but unforced errors at vital points during the match made all the difference and Kate won 4/6 6/3 6/0.

And so to the start of the doubles competition, with most of the first round matches being easily predicted the two potential upsets were at the bottom of the draw and involved the 6th and 7th seeds. First up Sara Metherell & Jill Newby v Tiffany Fielden & Stella Heap. Could the local pair use their home court advantage to good effect or could the new pairing of Jill and Sara hold to the seeding? After a slow start and the loss of the first set the stronger pairing held their own to eventually win 3/6 6/4 6/3. Last up was the other too close to call match, although Aldona Greenwood & Jo Sinclair were seeded 6 there was little difference in the handicap of their opponents Karen Hird and Juliette Lambert and with Karen and Juliette fresh from their strong loss at the British Open against the Open Champions they were spoiling for a fight. And a fight it was, with steady play from Karen at the back of the court and Juliette volleying up a storm the underdogs eventually won through with a 6/3 4/6 6/3 victory.

And then it was Wednesday where again most of the play went as predicted, the notable exception being the defeat of the 6th seed Alex Garside to the improving Australian Laura Fowler 6/5 6/2. The only other seed to go was Freddy Adam who had the unenviable task of playing the unseeded Penny Lumley. Although she has not been playing for a couple of years the ex-world champion Penny has returned to real tennis with a handicap of 14 so is a threat to all who find themselves drawn against her. She proved this by beating Freddy 6/1 6/2.

Thursday saw the start of the most gruelling day for the competitors, with most having their quarter-final singles match in the morning followed by their quarter-final doubles in the afternoon. Would this be too much for some, would there be enough tape in the club to cope with all the required strapping? First up were the young Sarah Vigrass against the professional Jo Iddles. Sarah got off to a cracking start and took the first set 6/4, Jo settled down slightly in the second to level the score 2/6 then the final set, could Jo’s shoulder hold out, could the young student hold her nerve? At 5 all it was anyone’s but Sarah held on to win 6/4 2/6 6/5 and defeat the number 2 seed, all in all a very exciting (though nerve racking for her supporters) match. Next up a repeat of the British Open quarter-final when Kate beat Sue in straight sets, could she repeat her performance? Yes she did manage to win but this time it took the full three sets, great for the spectators as it was a fantastic match with some excellent tennis, not so good for Kate who has had two demanding weeks of tennis leaving her hobbling somewhat. Although the other two quarters went pretty smoothly for the dominant players both of the younger players acquitted themselves very well.

Of the Doubles quarters the one between the number 4 and 5 seeds was the only one that might not go to seeding. As the young Vigrass sisters stepped onto the court the much older, but very experienced pairing of Alex Garside and Sally Grant must have sighed to themselves and wished to be young again. Age did in fact prevail as youth with its speed and agility stormed to a 6/3 6/4 victory. And that was the end of a very challenging and exceptionally long day.

And then it was Friday and the singles semi-finals. First up a repeat of the British Open semi-final between Charlotte Cornwallis and Kate Leeming, that had been an epic three setter, could it be repeated? In anticipation the crowded dedans looked on. Unfortunately Seacourt and Manchester play very differently, and the cut width and length that Kate had used so effectively down at Seacourt where impossible to repeat on this bouncier court. The final score line was an ungenerous 6/1 6/0.

With the dedans and the side galleries packed the tension was mounting as the seed slayers, Penny Lumley and Sarah Vigrass, stepped onto the court. Would Sarah be able to maintain her cool head and repeat her major upset and take out the previous world champion or would the enormity of the match have finally sunk in? Would the two year lack of match play leave Penny un-match fit or would the break have done her good? All would shortly be revealed. Sarah started the match very coolly and while Penny was settling down, managed to take the first set 6/4. Then as Penny calmed and played herself into the game the tide slowly turned, at 5 all in the second set Penny started to show her old determination winning the set then the match 4/6 6/5 6/3.