Tuesday

The 2009 British Open was started on Tuesday with a first round singles match between Lucy Hutchinson and Doris Siedentopf. Doris started well, reaching a 4-2 lead, but from here, Lucy’s superior movement and better consistency enabled her to take the first set 6-4, although Doris just missed the dedans for a 5-3 lead. The second set was more straightforward for Lucy, with her wrapping up the win 6-4 6-1.

The second match saw Jo Crerar take on Sarah McGivern. Jo dominated the match from the start and, despite some valiant efforts from Sarah, Jo was too strong, winning 6-1 6-0.

Next on saw Doris and Lucy again on opposing sides, this time in the doubles, partnered respectively by Margaret Wareing and Hazel Dunn. Margaret and Doris played some great volleys and the match was punctuated by some entertaining rests, but Hazel and Lucy dominated the service end and secured the win in straight sets, 6-2 6-0.

The final match of the day pitted Gill Goddard and Sue Bicheno against Sarah McGivern and Sheilagh Owens, with Gill and Sue winning comfortably 6-0 6-3. However, the score belied how close some of the games were, with Gill and Sue’s strong volleys eventually proving decisive.

Wednesday

The Wednesday saw the final first round match and all the second round matches in the singles being played. First up was Elvira Campione against Caroline Gilmore. Despite Elvira exhibiting some amazing volleys, it was Caroline who came out on top, 6-2 6-1.

In the second round matches, it was the turn of the fifth to eighth seeds to take to the court, with all winning in straight sets, although Claire Watson faced a tough test from Caroline Gilmore, before emerging as a 6-5 6-4 winner.

Thursday

The singles quarter finals were played on the Thursday, with all the seeds taking the places. First match on saw the defending champion and number 1 seed Charlotte Cornwallis face Claire Watson. Claire fought hard, but Charlotte was too strong, winning 6-1 6-1.

Next on was the second seed Claire Vigrass against Juliette Lambert. Claire’s impressive cut shots, difficult to retrieve especially on Seacourt, were working well, and it was she who prevailed, 6-1 6-2.

The third quarter final pitted Karen Hird, the third seed, against Aldona Greenwood. Karen started quickly, winning the first set 6-1. However, a slight loss of concentration let Aldona get a foothold in the second set, but Karen then put her foot down and closed the match out 6-1 6-4.

The final match was likely to be the closest of the day, with Freddy Adam, the fourth seed, playing against the fifth seed, Alex Garside, who had home court advantage in her favour. This certainly seemed to help in the first set, as Alex’s excellent length and knowledge of the court catapulted her to a 6-1 lead. However, Freddy was prepared for a long fight, and gradually pulled herself back into the match as she got used to the court, claiming the second set 6-3. In the final set, Alex appeared to be tired and with Freddy covering the court and picking up all of Alex’s shots, it was Freddy who prevailed, 1-6 6-3 6-0.

Friday

The Friday saw the doubles quarter-finals take place. The top seeds, Charlotte Cornwallis and Karen Hird, were on first against Gill Goddard and Sue Bicheno, with a comfortable 6-0 6-0 win. This score line was then repeated in the next two matched, with Freddy Adam and Claire Vigrass triumphing over Hazel Dunn and Lucy Hutchinson, and Alex Garside and Aldona Greenwood prevailing against Jo Miller and Elvira Campione.

Again, it was the final match of the day, between fourth seeds Caroline Gilmore and Susan Castley and Juliette Lambert and Jo Crerar, which saw the closest tennis. With Juliette covering the back of the court well and Jo volleying commandingly from the galleries, it was first blood to the underdogs, who took the first set 6-4. However, Susan and Caroline, both retrieving everything and keeping the ball in play, managed to level the match up, taking the second set 6-3. The final set was nip and tuck all the way, with neither team prepared to give an inch, but it was Caroline and Susan who eventually prevailed, securing the match 4-6 6-3 6-4.

Saturday

The opening semi-final of the singles pitted Charlotte Cornwallis against Freddy Adam. Freddy started serving, but Charlotte was quick off the mark to win the first point and lay a couple of chases to gain the service end. Winning both chases, Charlotte secured the first game to love. However, a brilliant volley return from Freddy on the first point of the second game forced the first error from Charlotte and she proceeded to win the game: 1-1. A quick third game gave Charlotte the lead and the third game, going to two deuces after some long rests, also followed: 3-1. The reigning champion was now in her match-winning mood and led 5-1 relatively quickly. However, again Freddy had other ideas and won the next game, aided by a superb shot into the bottom of the tambour, to go 2-5. The eighth game witnessed two grilles from Charlotte, but Freddy played well to get to advantage and then missed the grille herself by the narrowest of margins. From here, Charlotte retrieved well and looked relieved to close out the first set 6-2 from the hazard end.

With Freddy again serving for the first game, Charlotte showed ever more determination and laid two chases in the first two rests to return to the service end, securing the first two games from here. In the third game, Freddy found her returning length again and went to 30-15 before Charlotte hit the first winning gallery of the match to even the score. Charlotte proceeded to win the next two points and the game, giving her a 3-0 lead. From here, despite some valiant efforts and great rests, Freddy was unable to pressure Charlotte into errors and Charlotte cruised through the rest of the set, securing a place in the final with a 6-2 6-0 win.

The second semi-final saw the two youngsters, Claire Vigrass and Karen Hird, facing each other once again. Karen started nervously and quickly lost the first game, unable to cope with Claire’s strong returns. The second game went to three deuces, five chases and long rests, which Karen eventually won: 1-1. With both competitors now settling down, games alternated to 3-3. The seventh game was a long tussle, going to five deuces, with both players having chances to close it out. Claire played determinedly, attacking a half-a-yard chase with a superb force traveling towards the dedans on Karen’s backhand side. Karen lunged for the volley and put it squarely into the net: 4-3 to Claire. At this point, Claire had the momentum, and played consistent tennis for the next two games to close out the first set 6-3.

Karen started at the service end in the second set and games alternated to 2-2. Karen dug deep in the next game to go ahead 3-2. The next three games were very closely fought, but, with Karen winning more of the crucial points, she closed out the set after a four-deuce game, 6-2.

Karen again started at the service end for the beginning of the third set. Games remained very close with great attacking and retrieving from both players. However, it was again Karen who won more of the decisive points to lead 4-1. Claire wasn’t going to give in easily though, and narrowed the deficit to 2-4 and was then somewhat unfortunate not to win the seventh game after being 30-0 up. 5-2 to Karen, followed by a swift game to win the match 3-6 6-2 6-2.

The main event semi-finals were punctuated by the plate doubles semi-finals, played off handicap. First on were Juliette Lambert and Jo Crerar, giving away a very large handicap to Sarah McGivern and Sheilagh Owens. Despite the heavy handicap, Jo and Jules played a controlled game, with Jules covering the back and Jo taking the galleries. They were able to force Sarah and Sheilagh into errors and clawed their way back into each game, winning the first set 6-4. Again in the second set, despite Sheilagh’s uncanny knack of knowing exactly where the ball was going, Jo and Jules showed why they were facing such a large handicap, winning the match 6-4 6-4.

In the second plate doubles semi-final, Jo Miller and Elvira Campione faced Doris Siedentopf and Margaret Wareing. Jo and Elvira were the pair to face a hefty handicap this time, receive half 30 owe half 30, and Doris and Margaret quickly showed that they meant business, surging to a 2-0 lead. However, with Elvira playing some stunning volleys and Jo playing solidly from the back, they pegged Doris and Margaret back and then took the lead 3-2. The sixth game went to 40-all, with Doris and Margaret needing to beat chase 3&4 to stop the run of games. Margaret coolly volleyed Elvira’s serve and Jo was unable to return it, so levelling up the set at 3-3. From here, it was the experience of Margaret and Doris that showed, and despite Jo hitting the grille to save a set point, they secured the first set 6-4. The start of the second set saw games alternating to 1-1. Elvira and Jo then managed to rescue the third game from 40 owe 15 down to lead 2-1. With Elvira and Margaret trading strong volleys that belied their handicaps, it was nip and tuck to 3-2 to Doris and Margaret. However, from here the handicap proved too much to overcome for Elvira and Jo, with Doris and Margaret winning through 6-4 6-3.

The first of the doubles semi-finals saw Charlotte Cornwallis and Karen Hird, the first seeds, facing the fourth seeds, Susan Castley and Caroline Gilmore. Charlotte opened the match serving with Karen playing at the back. A combination of tight serving and powerful volleys meant Charlotte and Karen led 2-0 and 40-15 before the first change of ends, keeping up the pressure to close the set out 6-0. The second set saw a reversal of fortunes, with Caroline and Susan now at the service end and going into a quick 2-0 lead. Was Karen getting tired from her earlier exploits? The third game was a close fought affair and only a winning gallery saved Charlotte and Karen from a 3-0 deficit. Eventually, the number one seeds win this game and the next few to go up 4-2. The seventh game was another close tussle, with Susan and Caroline leading 40-30, but Charlotte and Karen hung on to win this game and the next to close out the match 6-0 6-2.

In the second doubles semi-final, the second seeds Freddy Adam and Claire Vigrass faced a potentially difficult test against Aldona Greenwood and Alex Garside, seeded three. Claire started serving and the first game proved to be a close affair, with the favourites securing it after four deuces. However, Aldona and Alex had secured the serve and, helped by a winning gallery from Alex, leveled the scores up at 1-1. They then secured the next game and a possible upset beckoned. However, Claire and Freddy then stepped up a gear and with Claire’s strong back court play complementing Freddy’s volleys superbly, they raced to a 4-2 lead. The seventh game was another long one, with numerous deuces, but it was Freddy and Claire who won this and the next game to take the first set 6-2. At the start of the second set, Aldona and Alex switched receivers, but this proved to no avail with Freddy and Claire reaching 5-0 up. At this point, they slightly took their foot off the gas and Aldona and Alex took advantage, winning the game to make it 1-5. They then won the first point of the next game, but could not continue their comeback, Freddy and Claire securing the game and the match 6-2 6-1.

Reporting by:
Karen Hird