
Ruaraidh Gunn, Chris Chapman, Julian Snow, Chris Sievers, Andrew Gould and Ali Limb
Ruaraidh Gunn, world championship challenger in 2010, won an unprecedented 5th consecutive Victorian Open Singles title on Sunday. He beat Chris Chapman in the final, 6/1 6/1; I compliment both of them by remarking that, notwithstanding the scoreline, Chris played really well. Ruaraidh looked supremely fit and strong, and displayed top notch form throughout the final. He appeared to be in full control of all aspects of his game, playing a perfect blend of controlled agression allied with remarkable retrieving. He even managed to successfully defend most of Chris’s thunderbolt forces (though he did wear one, deflected off the net cord, on his hip). Who knows what Ruaraidh’s rival challengers are up to at the moment, but I’d be suprised if any were in better form.
On the following day, Ruaraidh & Chris failed by only the narrowest margin to wrest the doubles title from the holders Julian Snow & Chris Sievers. It was a spectacular, if uneven, match which entertained the Monday evening crowd. All players had patches of good play: Chris Sievers, as ever, showed remarkable form considering how little he plays, the younger Chris more than held his own amongst much more experienced company, Ruaraidh’s attack on the grille was as deft as usual, and I was relieved to see one or two of my backhand drives get past the pros into the dedans at crucial times.
After a 6/5, 1/6, 6/5 win to the amateurs, Ali Limb presented them with the George Limb Trophy.