There was an impressive level of success by Newry Club members in the first week of the Warrenpoint Open 2017. 

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Men's Singles

It was an all Newry final with difficult weather conditions as thunder and heavy showers passed overhead for the men's final between the top two seeds Giby Vettiankal and Shane McAteer. It was a cagey first set as neither player could go to their full extensive games as the footing was slippery. As you would expect with players of this quality it went with serve up until 4-4 with some highly contested games. There was scoreline confusion in the ninth game but Shane broke to 15 and then had to serve out a classic game for the first set. It was the classic tennis match up with the net rushing of Giby against the baseline solidity of Shane. In a tough game Shane turned round a game point with a forehand winner and then a Giby backhand error gave him set point. In a compelling rally with both players stretched to the limit Shane executed a marvellous lob to clinch it 6-4. The second set was a bit more one sided as Shane went for a bit more pace on his groundies and Giby was finding it less comfortable and making some unusual errors. Two falls for Giby didn't help his cause and Shane built up a 5-2 lead and held 3 match points before dumping two easy shots into the net and then another error gave the impetus back to Giby and he won the vital game. However Shane would not be denied and in a tense game won on his fifth match point as Giby mistimed his volley at the net. Shane had added the Warrenpoint Open title to his Newry victory earlier in the year. Reference should also be made to Gerry Sweetman who reached the semis.

 

There were great crowds for the event including Diggery the dog supporting Patrick McMahon!

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Men's Plate

In another all Newry final Matthew Richmond beat Gary Hanratty 64 63. The height of the Richmond serve was perhaps e difference between these two but Gary showed his usual spunk. There was a fun rally when Matthew even continued on hitting shots from lying on the ground. 

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Women's Doubles

Mother and daughter combination Derval and Eve Campbell reached the final but lost to Deirdre Dinsmore (who holds joint Newry and Warrenpoint membership) with Alison Dunne.

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