Top Seeds Take Titles At Wellington Tennis Open
The top seeds were victorious in the Maxim Financial Wellington Tennis champs at the Renouf Tennis Centre with local
player Finn Tearney continuing his good domestic form, while British pro, Suzy Larkin won the women’s title.
For Tearney, 27 And ranked just over 500 in the world it was a significant 6-3 6-3 victory in one hour 16 minutes over
Auckland professional Rhett Purcell to go with his NZ Champs two weeks ago.
After a year of injuries Tearney was back to winning matches, looking fit and showing he could outlast his opponent as
well.
“I’m happy to win in my home town and keep competing. He(Purcell) was hitting big. I know I’m going to have to weather
the storm from him and he’s a good athlete. He’s playing well. I’m just happy to win matches and I’m now back to 100 per
cent injury free,” said Tearney who had won the Wellington title two years running 2014-15 and was a finalist to Rubin
Statham last year.
Tearney will now play in the exhibition tournament in Te Anau before the new year.
Top women’s seed Larkin, 25 who has a WTA ranking just over 700 won the women’s title over New Zealand Fed Cup player
Paige Hourigan in straight sets 6-3 6-3 and also took away the women’s doubles for good measure where she combined with
Auckland teen Holly Stewart to defeat Hourigan and Jo Carswell (Auckland) 3-6 6-2 10-7.
There was a surprise result in the men’s doubles final as Auckland’s Anton Bettink and Wellington teen, Finlay Hall
defeated top seeds Marcus Daniell and Ajeet Rai (Taranaki) 6-3 4-6 11-9. At one stage Bettink and Hall won 16 straight
points in the second set, although Daniell and Rai had a match point before giving away the point on questioned call and
then losing the next three points in a row and the match.
Results
Women’s singles finals:
(1)Suzy Larkin (United Kingdom) bt (3)Paige Hourigan (Wanganui) 6-3 6-3
Women’s doubles finals:
Suzy Larkin (United Kingdom)/Holly Stewart (Auckland) bt Jo Carswell (Auckland)/Paige Hourigan (Wanganui) 3-6 6-2 10-7
Men’s singles finals:
(1)Finn Tearney (Wellington) bt (2)Rhett Purcell (Auckland) 6-3 6-3
Men’s doubles finals:
Anton Bettink (Auckland)/Finlay Hall (Wellington) bt Marcus Daniell (Wairarapa)/Ajeet Rai (Taranaki) 6-3 4-6 11-9