The Ladies French open 2009 - Bordeaux

This year‘s French Open clashed not only with half-term, but also with the British Handicap weekend which meant that the entry lacked quantity. Only four players entered, but the quality was still high with the highest handicapped contestant playing off 32 and the other three players being in the top 4 on world ranking points and the top 8 of active players on handicap.

First up were Claire Vigrass, the Number 1 seed, against Nicola Cavill. Claire‘s recent impressive performance at Cambridge in the Level Singles Open Category B (10-19) had seen her handicap drop to just under 15 and the result of this contest was pretty inevitable. However, Nicola played with impressive fighting spirit and a lot of games went to 30 all with long rallies. Annoyingly, at least for Nicola, Claire just kept winning them.

In the end, a 6:2, 6:1 victory for Claire.

In the second semi, Karen Hird, the Number 2 seed, faced Freddy Adam. These two are making a habit out of meetingin semi-finals following the World Championships and the US Open with one win apiece in those games. So the contest promised to be close and nervy. And this, indeed, was what happened. But just as these two look inseparable at 3 games all, Karen suddenly found consistency and proceeded to win the next three games to close out the first set 6:3.

The second set started with tense play from both sides trading brilliant winners and errors interchangeably to go 3 all. Without either of the two finding any rhythm, Karen managed to go 5:4 up. In the next game, a couple more volley returns from Karen were too good for Freddy, who then couldn't beat chase one on match point. So a Hird/Vigrass final.....a repeat of the previous year‘s semi.

Saturday – The Doubles – A straight final

With only four contestants entered, the doubles went to a straight final with the established pair of Claire Vigrass and Freddy Adam playing the RTC partnership of Karen Hird and Nicola Cavill.

The more established pair, Freddy and Claire achieved a comprehensive 6:1 6:2 victory.

Sunday – The Singles Final

The Finalists: Karen Hird & Claire Vigrass

After a good dinner the night before and with the benefit of an extra hour‘s lie-in due to the change to winter time, the Ladies Final kicked off at noon, with the two top seeds Number 1, Claire Vigrass and 2, Karen Hird playing each other.

After several close games and the advantage swinging between the two players Karen won the first set 6:5.

The momentum in the second set swung again and after a good start from Karen, Claire took the set 6:2 and the score went 1 set apiece after one and a half-hour‘s play.

So, into the third set and although all the games were close, the momentum was with Claire who went 2:0 ahead in the decider. But in the next two games, Karen got her head down and showed good fighting spirit to equalise at 2 all. There were game points for both players in the fifth and the score went 3:2 to Karen. Another deuce game followed, but Karen pulled ahead 4:2, Claire went ahead 30 love in the next, but the game progressed to its inevitable deuce.

They had now been on court for more than two hours! Claire held off 3 games points against her and eventually won the game to narrow the gap to 3:4. The next game started with Claire going 30 love ahead, but after the inevitable deuce, Karen won the game with a net cord from the hazard end on game point attacking a hazard chase. 5:3 to Karen. Claire pulled one back, but was stuck at the receiving end. When she finally regained serve, the score was 4:5, 0:40 in Karen‘s favour with a chase 6. Karen can‘t quite beat this one but wins the next point with a forehand return.

Karen won 6:5 2:6 6:4 – and surely, we will see a lot more close matches between these two contestants.

With many thanks to Simon Marshall who provided the live web-feeds on which this report has been based. And also thanks to Frederika Adam for the photo.