Last weekend (July 25/26) the RMTC hosted ARTA’s Australian Women’s Amateur Singles and Doubles. The field was small but the leading competitors were on show. In the singles event Rosie Snell showed that she is still up there with the best when she easily knocked off the young(ish) upstart Xanthe Ranger 6/3 6/2 to set herself up for a tilt at the title against reigning champ Laura Fowler.
The final was as good as you could wish for with great rallies, volleys, winning galleries, nervous mistakes and cunning serving all on display. The first set was won by Laura 6/3 in what at that stage was shaping as a somewhat predictable match, however, from then on nothing went to any sort of script. Rosie’s game plan of playing to Laura’s backhand allowed her to take a strong lead in the second set before Laura fought back to level it at 5/5. Rosie started the last game at the service end but when Laura blazed away to lead 40/15 as well as laying a chase better than 2, the match looked over. At the change of ends Rosie ripped a crosscourt forehand to win the chase and then closed out the set with aplomb. Rosie’s form continued in the 3rd set until she led 5/2 only for the match to turn again. As Laura lifted her game, Rosie seemed to forget about hitting to the backhand corner and before we knew it the score was 5/5 in the 3rd. Laura’s comeback was also aided somewhat by Rosie’s belief that her Pound serve might catch Laura out, unlikely given Laura’s speed of foot. At 5/5 and then deuce, Rosie then held her first and only match point which Laura duly saved with a forehand volley. Congratulations to both players and to Laura for retaining the Australian Women’s Amateur Singles Title.
L.Fowler def. R.Snell 6/3 5/6 6/5
The doubles was split into to 2 divisions. In the main draw Laura and Xanthe showcased their skills in another good match against Prue McCahey and Rosie providing spectators with another 3 set tussle.
Fowler/Ranger def. McCahey/Snell 6/4 3/6 6/2
In Division 1 Anabelle Guest and Julia Page were too steady for the fast improving Royal South Yarra pair Kim Dudson and Brigitte Claney. During the second set the lawn tennis strokes of the RSY pair started to show but a few well placed forehands from Anabelle coupled with Julia’s gritty ground strokes held them off.
Guest/Page def. Claney/Dudson 6/2 6/5.