Jane Boyle Ladies' Singles Champion 2000

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		Ladies' Open Singles Holder : Jane Boyle
Round 1 Sat 14 July	Round 2 Sun 15 July	Round 3 Sun 22 July	Semi-final Wed 25 July	Final Sat 28 July	Winner
	Jane Boyle	Jane Boyle 6-0 6-1	Jane Boyle 6-2 6-2	Jane Boyle 6-2 6-2	Jane Boyle 4-6 7-6 6-3
	A Young
	M Jacquin	M Jacquin 6-2 6-1
	Julia Boiko
	S Tornow	S Tornow 7-6 6-2	S Tornow 6-2 6-3
	M Duncan
	G Green	J Abbot 6-4 6-4
K Russell	J Abbot
J Abbot
	M De Jong	M De Jong 6-4 6-1	L Goodfellow 6-1 6-2	L South 6-4 6-4
	S Harrison
	C MacNamara	L Goodfellow 6-0 6-0
	L Goodfellow
	E Valache	E Valache w/o	L South 6-4 6-1
	G Levy
	E Bier	L South 6-1 6-0
	L South

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	Men's Open Doubles Holders : Mark Stapleton & Peter Phillips
Round 1 Sun 15 July	Round 2 Sun 22 July	Semi-final Wed 25 July	Final Sat 28 July	Winner
	M Stapleton P Phillips	M Stapleton P Phillips 6-0 6-3	M Stapleton P Phillips 6-0 6-0	M Stapleton P Phillips 6-2 6-3
M Sangian J Jamansami	J Barnes V Sudbery 6-0 6-0
J Barnes V Sudbery
M Anderson N E-King	D Braverman H Raphael w/o
D Braverman H Raphael
D Griffiths D Rubenstein	P Rubie A Brodie 6-3 6-7 6-3
P Rubie A Brodie
V Mulvey R Huxtable	V Mulvey R Huxtable w/o	V Mulvey R Huxtable 3-6 6-2 7-6	S Gangji K Ryan 6-1 6-1
D Leigh J Leigh
	J Fox M Raybould
A Collins J Louw	J Hiday H Crompton w/o	S Gangji K Ryan 6-1 6-1
J Hiday H Crompton
	S Gangji K Ryan

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Men's Singles   Ladies' Singles   Men's Doubles   Ladies' Doubles   Mixed Doubles   Match Reports   Player Bios  

	Open Mixed Doubles Holders : Janet O'Connor & Peter Phillips
Round 1 Sun 15 July	Round 2 Thu 19 July	Round 3 Sun 22 July	Semi-final Tue 24 July	Final Thu 26 July	Winner
	J O'Connor P Phillips	J O'Connor P Phillips 6-0 6-2	J O'Connor P Phillips 6-0 6-3	J O'Connor P Phillips 6-2 6-1	J O'Connor P Phillips 6-1 3-6 6-4
J O'Connor P Phillips 6-1 3-6 6-4
	H Rapael E Valache
D Simmons D Simmons	P Boiko J Boiko	M Anderson M Duncan 6-3 6-3
P Boiko J Boiko
	M Anderson M Duncan
	J Boyle P Davies	J Boyle P Davies 6-3 7-5	J Boyle P Davies 6-2 6-2
	D Braverman M Jacquin
	A Olins S Harrison	J Hiday E Bier w/o
	J Hiday E Bier
	A Brodie A Young	A Brodie A Young 6-3 1-6 6-2	M Stapleton L Stapleton 6-2 6-2	S Gangji R Gangji 6-1 6-2
V Mulvey S Turnow	J Barnes J Barnes 6-4 5-7 6-2
J Barnes J Barnes
	R Huxtable J Abbott	M Stapleton L Stapleton 6-0 6-1
	M Stapleton L Stapleton
	P Rubie G Green	J Fox M De Jong w/o	S Gangji R Gangji 6-3 6-3
	J Fox M De Jong
	M Sangian S Latimer	S Gangji R Gangji 6-1 6-0
	S Gangji R Gangji

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Match Reports

Men's Singles Final - Mark Stapleton vs Peter Phillips

Finals day was sweltering hot and the temperature must have been 30 degrees.

The match started in anticipated fashion with Mark taking the first 3 games, but after that he did not get a look in for the rest of the set, as.Peter took the next 6 games to win it 6-3. However, Mark is made of stern stuff and put the pressure on in the second set. This told as Mark took all 6 games to win it 6-0.

The stage was set for the crucial decider, but first we had a slight hiatus. Peter had to take a medical emergency time out to cool off, and went to have a shower.

The first two games of the final set went with serve, but then Mark played some good tennis to break for 2-1. The next game went with serve, but Peter was closely contested under pressure with some consistent returning and groundstrokes from Mark, who had two break points but converted neither. In the next game Peter threatened to recover the break, but Mark held his nerve and his serve for a 4-2 lead.

The crucial 7th saw some accurate play from Mark for two break points. Peter held the first but Mark forced an error on the second for a 5-2 lead with serve. Mark then served out for the championship.

It was a good game for the spectators, with plenty of excitement for the spectators, but Mark has regained his traditional place as club singles champion.

Ladies' Singles Final - Jane Boyle vs Lesley South

The first 8 games went with serve, but then Lesley broke and held to take the first set 6-4.

There were no breaks in the second set which so the tie break came into force. Lesley forced the early mini-break, but Jane pulled it back to 3-3 and eventually took it.

The final set started with serve for the first 3 games. In the fourth Lesley was 40-15 up but Jane put on the pressure first to bring the score to deuce and then took the next two points for the first break in 17 games. At this stage both players were obviously feeling the effects of sun and fatigue.

Jane then held serve to consolidate the break and was 15-40 up in the next. On the first break point Jane got the benefit of a grass court slider and all Lesley could do was put the ball in the net, giving Jane a 5-1 lead.

With nothing to lose Lesley pulled out the stops in the next game, hitting two cracking winners to create doubt in the champions mind. Lesley's next service game went to deuce and she then pulled out a fantastic service winner and later took the game.

Serving for the championship Jane played some good placement shots in the first two points to get the edge. When Lesley dumped a service return in the net it looked like the end. A winning service return deferred the inevitable, but Lesley hit the net with her next service return to give Jane the cup.

It was a battle of nerve and stamina over 2 hours 10 minutes. Congratulations to Jane on her second successive title and has made history by finally beating Jean Payton's record of club single titles..

Men's doubles final - Mark Stapleton and Peter Phillips vs Sultan Gangji and Kevin Ryan.

Sultan lost his serve in the first game and he and Kevin could not regain the service break. Kevin was broken later and Mark and Peter sealed the first set 6-2.

The second set was a little more even, but the champions were worth their seeding and settled it 6-3 to the applause of the vociferous crowd.

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Player Biographies

Mark Stapleton

Strong right-hander who deserted West Heath in 2000 to play league matches for David Lloyd in the Intermediate division. Of late Mark has usually won the men's singles, but the competition last year from Miles Raybould in the semis was too stiff. Mark is married to the delectable Ludmilla whom he partnered last year in the mixed doubles, thus nipping in the bud any suspicions of mixed doubles pot hunting which could be levelled at the stronger men players. Unfortunately the husband and wife team fell to Janet and Peter early in the final week. Mark atoned for these early defeats with a victory in the men's doubles, partnered by Peter Phillips.

Miles Raybould

Bred and trained by the well-know Raybould tennis stables and having shed his junior mantle, Miles now plays for Chandos. His power and speed about court are legendary, but he can be inconsistent under pressure - but who was going to put him under pressure? Having beaten Mark Stapleton in the men's singles, as predicted, he took the 2000 title in decisive manner against Peter Phillips.

Miles has elected not to enter this year to leave the way clear for younger (and older) Rayboulds. However, in the interim he has become the Middlesex 18 and under champion, so maybe he has better fish to fry.

Sultan Gangji

Rumours has it that Sultan resigned his post as Head of Officiating at the LTA in order to concentrate on the 2000 club tournament. Last year we were tipping Sultan to be in all three finals, but two finals was the limit. Inside sources suggested that a hip problem was responsible for a poor performance in the 2000 singles semi-final in which Peter Phillips went through. The mixed doubles final with Lesley resulted in a loss to Peter Phillips partnered by Janet O'Connor. And Sultan and Kevin lost in the 2000 mens doubles final to - you guessed it - Peter Phillips, this time partnered by Mark Stapleton. So no silverware for Sultan last year. Will he rectify matters this year? Watch this space.

Peter Phillips

As ex-owner of Preston Sports Peter is in the trade, but has chucked it in to provide a professional tennis education for his daughter Natasha in Florida.

Peter is a solid doubles player and was clearly playing well in 2000 as he made all three finals, including the singles, in which he beat the semi-final odds to eliminate Sultan. Last year Peter took the mixed title with Janet O'Connor. Perhaps predictably, Peter was beaten by Miles Raybould in the singles final, but there was also a doubles final victory over Sultan and Kevin when Peter partnered Mark Stapleton.

There can be no doubt that, Peter was the in-form regular West Heath player last year. It remains to be seen whether the enforced leisure waiting for his US permit has sharpened his edge or blunted his will to win.

Kevin Ryan

Kevin is a very good doubles player and steady under pressure although his singles record does not match his doubles ranking. It is a pity that a leg injury plus Sultan's hip problem did not allow them to reproduce some of their form of earlier years in the 2000 mens's doubles final, which they lost to Mark Stapleton and Peter Phillips.

Lesley South

Lesley was much improved 1999 and 2000, due to a strenous training regime (cycling to and from work, the club and her house in West London). Perhaps the training was too much because, in the ladies' final, she suffered an early hip injury which left her looking decidedly lop-sided, and must have contributed somewhat to her loss to Jane Boyle. The doubles final had to be postponed until she was again fit, but Leslay did not prevail this time.

Jane Boyle

Jane provided the big upset of the 2000 tournament by beating Liz Goodfellow in the semi's. Jane had been training hard for the grass court tournament and has shed one or two pounds to bring herself to a trim fit powerhouse for the occasion. Jane was determined to seize her opportunity once more in 2000. Lesley might have been able to stop her, but Jane was playing too well and deservedly saw her name on the trophy after the large gap following her 1981 victory.

Janet O'Connor

Janet has traditionally been finals material, but there were whispers that her new love blunted the cutting edge of her game. The dog himself denied it when asked, of course, and Janet proved herself once more by taking the 2000 mixed with Peter Phillips. Earlier this season Janet was hungry enough to win the belated 2000 women's doubles with Jane.

Liz Goodfellow

Liz failed to take the belated 2000 women's doubles silverware with Lesley in the doubles, losing to Janet and Jane.

The LTA Official View

The LTA have an inter-club rating scheme for players who register. You get an initial rating, then ratings are updated regularly based on your tournament results. The ratings of our club finalists are on the LTA web site (click on the underlined link above) and can be years out of date (mine is). They are:-

3.1 - Miles Raybould
4.2 - Jane Boyle, Mark Stapleton, Sultan Gangji, Peter Phillips
5.2 - Kevin Ryan, Lesley South (and yours truly)
6.1 - Liz Goodfellow (I don't think this is current somehow).
Janet O'Connor appears to have no published Middlesex rating.

Men's Singles   Ladies' Singles   Men's Doubles   Ladies' Doubles   Mixed Doubles   Match Reports   Player Bios  

Tuesday 24 July

• More sunshine and unexpected grass court tennis. The draw is now hotting up, generally with the seeds coming through.

• The gourmet dinners seem to be going well (says your webmaster reporting remotely from Edinburgh). I'm allowed home for an evening (only) tomorrow so I'll be dining too, after our mixed semi-final.....

Thursday 19 July

• Bad weather again - only one match played since Monday night and that was tonight. Weather forecast doesn't look much better for Friday or the weekend either - maybe we'll get to play but perhaps not on grass.

• It looks like Peter Phillipps and Janet O'Connor are on the march again, winning 0 and 2 in their first match.

Sunday 15 July

• What a stroke of luck! Despite the weather forecast the grass courts were open and a tremendous day of tennis was had by all.

• A gentle reminder - if you know that you cannot play the next round then when you get to match point in your favour you should concede to allow your opponents to go through.

Saturday 14 July

• Yet again, Cumberland have done the dirty on us by changing their dates and the West Heath tournament is running concurrently with the Cumberland tournament. Our apologies to any West Heath competitors who may be affected by this.

• The postponed 2000 Ladies Doubles final was finally won by Janet O'Connor and Jane Boyle.

• There have been the usual reports of jostling for position among some of the ladies with the strongest of the new male members to secure themselves a good match for the mixed.

• A number of last year's finalist have LTA inter-club ratings. Click here to find out more.

• The webmaster would like to point out that, although this year represents a break in his marital mixed doubles tradition at West Heath, he and his wife are partnering each other in the mixed in the concurrent Cumberland tournament.   Unfortunately Annabel declared herself unavailable for the West Heath mixed but Jane has since come to his rescue.

• It's good to see Rachael back in harness with Sultan in the mixed doubles. After Rachael's spell of injuries over the last few years we give her a resounding welcome back to the club tournament.

Men's Singles   Ladies' Singles   Men's Doubles   Ladies' Doubles   Mixed Doubles   Match Reports   Player Bios