Newry Tennis Club

In the exciting top of the table clash in the Newry Tennis Club Spring League it was the teenage sensation Shane McAteer who defeated club legend Giby Vettiankal on Friday night 6-3 6-2. It was a great advertisement both for the sport and the club as both men are athletic and extremely sporting towards one another. The tennis was an exciting contrast with Giby taking every opportunity to reach the net for his superb forecourt play whilst Shane was content to work from the back of the court and use his wonderful groundstrokes to pass the maestro. Both guys had been unbeaten in the Spring League coming into this match so a perfect record for one of them was about to disappear. Shane opened up a 2-0 lead as Giby was being passed at the net. As you would expect Giby began to find his rhythm and equalised at 2-2 with customary aplomb sealing the fourth game with a volley winner. Giby then broke Shane to lead 3-2 and the match seemed to have turned but the youngster was relaxed and rifling forehand winners from everywhere on the court. In highly contested ralley's he would claim the next four games including a twisty ninth game which lasted some 10 minutes before Shane threaded the needle with another forehand winner past a forlorn Giby. The early part of set two was close at 2-1 before Shane would break twice in a row to open up some breathing space. His own serve was working better with no double faults at all in this set. A service unreturnable and a forehand winner was enough to seal a 5-1 lead. Would we be seeing a huge upset on the Warrenpoint Road courts? Giby served out to 15 for an easy hold. But Shane would serve out for a famous victory to love and an inspiring 6-3 6-2 victory. Some interesting statistics as Shane hit 26 forehand zingers whilst Giby made 10 volley winners.  The League continues over the next few weeks.