The Best Property Services Newry Open is split over two months this year which has provided additional opportunities for players to make themselves available for Singles, Doubles and Mixed. This helped attract the biggest Men’s Singles draw for over a decade, Amongst the spectators was European Boxing champion Amy Broadhurst who was watching her brother Stephen reach the semis where he fell to top Newry player Shane McAteer. In a terrific performance Shane coped with everything Stephen threw at him before creating his own barrage of drop shots, cross court backhands and fierce forehands. Shane won 64 61. The other semi had the No2 and No3 seeds face each other as Rory McGeown from Warrenpoint played local guy Tim Smith. Amazingly they had never met in a tournament before so the first set tiebreak was crucial and exciting to watch. The crux was a long point at 5-5 when Tim came up with the forehand winner. The second set remained close with sumptuous single handed backhands from Rory but also great power from Tim who triumphed 76 64. The final was a repeat of the 2017 event and both Shane and Tim have met many times. The weather was fantastic as Shane found the right mixture of offence and defence in the first set to take it 62. Tim decided to go for his shots more in set two and this tactic worked as he held on to claim it 64. However the mixture of heat and the oppressive rallies took their toll and the ultra fit Shane McAteer keeps on going and he served it out 60 to win his third Newry Open Men’s Singles title before the age of 21 which means he is the youngest ever to do so.

 

 

The Women’s Singles was won by Eve Campbell who had flown back from Maine, USA the day before to defend her title against her mother Derval. It was Eve's second title having won first in 2018 and she is a vital part of our membership. Eve has improved her backhand during her time in the American summer. Derval has just retired and had a celebration with a bottle of Cava shared amongst spectators during the week. 

 

 

The other event held in August was the Mixed Doubles. The Newry organisers were very happy with the standard of entry including a significant Dundalk representation. The final was surprisingly one sided as Shane McAteer and Deirdre Dinsmore added a second Newry Open title to their collection by beating Derek Laverty who Shane had recently won Rostrevor Open with and 15 year old Dundalk lass Ciara Graham who had been playing tennis all summer in Spain. Deirdre was strong at the net and Shane punched holes through the defence of the opposition to win 62 61. This was a fourth Open title together as they have now won 2 Newry and 2 Rostrevor titles. Warrenpoint must be the aim now.

 

 

There was a new event held in the Newry Open named in commemoration of one of the founders of the club, Fr McConville. Gerry Sweetman beat Kieran Campbell in the inaugural edition. Gerry moved Kieran around the court with an impressive down the line and then sharp angles crosscourt. Kieran as you would expect fought back in the second but Gerry being the only seed in this event had too much in the tank.

​

Mens Plate - Neil McMahon won his first singles title and was in dminat form as he came through the tournament without losing a set. On the day of his son's first birthday it was a double celebration as he beat 2017 winner Nigel Bingham.

 

 

In this week of Newry Pride, Newry Tennis Club were very proud of their tournament, players, sponsors, spectators and organisers.

MENS SINGLES Shane McAteer bt Tim Smith 62 46 60 WOMENS SINGLES Eve Campbell bt Derval Campbell 62 62 MIXED DOUBLES Shane McAteer & Deirdre Dinsmore bt Derek Laverty & Ciara Graham 62 61 FR MCCONVILLE CUP Gerry Sweetman bt Kieran Campbell 61 64 MENS PLATE Neil Mcmahon bt Nigel Bingham 62 62 MIXED PLATE Malachy McAteer Snr & Anne Greer bt Pat O’Neill & Tish White 75 62 JUNIOR BOYS Daniel Boyle bt Kaden Moore 62 62