Newry Tennis Club

The 2016 Best Property Services Newry Tennis Open which has been held in the town for the last forty years fittingly ended the day before Wimbledon ensuring locals were in the mood for the tennis highlight of the year. For aficionados and supporters of the tournament they had a real treat in the men’s singles final as local legend Giby Vettiankal won his seventh Newry Open title, his first being a mere 31 years ago as a teenager! Proving to be a man of immense stamina and desire to succeed, Giby launched comebacks in both his semi and final from seemingly impossible positions. In the semi he was a point away from being 1-5 down in the final set to the emerging teenage talent Shane McAteer but using a vast well of experience he used his touch around the net to turn it around. In the other semi Tim Smith was in awesome form as he was hitting thunderous serves and groundies against a dogged Stephen Broadhurst from Dundalk claiming a tight 6-4 6-4 victory.

 

It would be a classic final between the top two seeds, Giby and Tim with the outcome not known until 3 hours 15 minutes later. Tim had points to break in the first game of the match with his searing groundstrokes but Giby held firm with his delicate touchplay. Tim led 5-4 40-15 but failed to convert the set points and Giby broke back and held for 6-5 before the first set reached its denouement in a tight tiebreak with Tim edging it. In a topsy turvy second set Tim opened up his shoulders again and bullied Giby utilising an inside out forehand to full effect and was seemingly on his way to victory at 4-1. But just as in his semi, Giby overturned a deficit and was soaking up the pressure retrieving what seemed like impossible balls from the back of the court before volleying off for winners in the forecourt.

In a reversal of fortune, Giby served for the second set at 5-4 but alas we were heading for yet another tiebreak. This time Giby showed enough consistency to level the match as Tim was now going for everything both winners and losers. By now it wasn’t just a tennis match but a feat of endurance as both hobbled around the court but the standard was still terrific to watch. The touch of Giby was winning the battle over the power of Tim and he seized the initiative at 5-1 in the final set. The last game is always the hardest one to win in tennis and Tim was hitting sweet winners again to peg back two games but it was a mountain to climb and Giby had won an emotional match 6-3 with his family watching. His happy daughter Riya ran onto court for a delightful ending to the champs.

 

The ladies’ singles final was an all Dundalk match up as nationally ranked Vivienne Bond beat R Kelly for the loss of just two games. The match was closer than the scoreline records but Vivienne had all the answers on the important points including a 20 something stroke rally in the final game to decide the outcome.

 

Giby completed a famous double as Giby Vettiankal and Jamie Campbell coasted to a 6-2 6-1 win over 2015 champions Tim Smith and Marty Keenan. Team Gib Jam were outstanding at the net relentlessly preventing any passing shot or lob to disrupt their rhythm as they worked in tandem throughout.

 

The Mixed final saw Jeff Collins defend his crown this time with Ladies Singles winner Vivienne Bond as they beat Kieran Campbell and Dorothy Blair 6-1 6-2, the runners up were hampered by a knee injury to Dorothy.