Belfast Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament 2008

The 2008 Belfast Open Wheelchair Championships marked a new era as Englishman Tony Knappett finally won the event at his 8^th attempt! Knappett went through the tournament unbeaten winning all five singles as well as both his doubles matches to complete a successful tournament for him.

 

Local players Ivor Jess , Matt Rolston and Stafford Lynn were up against 4 English and a Scot in the A section of the event and all fought bravely but only Stafford Lynn made it through the group stages with a good win against top seed Shaun Regan in the group faze to win Group A. Group B produced some very tight matches but Tony Knappett seeded 2 and Peter Moore (3) came through.

           

In the semis top 2 seeds Tony Knappett and Shaun Regan faced each other and the match was tight but Knappett maintained his unbeaten run taking it 7-5 7-5. The other semi between Pistol Pete Moore and Staff Lynn was exciting with each player having momentum with Pistol Pete winning the first in a tight tie break and then Staff taking the second by the scruff of the neck and whistling through it 6-0. However Pistol broke his momentum early in the deciding Champions Tie break and proved himself the tie break king by winning the decider 10-3

 

Sunday Morning arrived and Pistol looking a pale shadow of the kilt wearing demon the night before got off to a sluggish start against an energetic looking Knappett and soon found himself 5-0 down. He managed to get a couple of games on the board before Knappett closed out the first set and although Pete played a better second set Tony was in no mood to relinquish his grip on the trophy and won the second set 6-4. Still no trophy for Moore after 11 attempts!!

 

The A doubles was Ulsters best chance of a trophy when Ivor Jess and Staff Lynn started well against Shaun Regan and singles champion Tony Knappett and took a 4-1 lead. However as Tonys mind settled on the job his level really started to improve and he cut out the errors and stormed back to win the set 6-4. By this stage the lads were on a roll and they cut through the 2^nd 6-0 to make it the double for Knappett

 

The Welsh dominated the B section with Swansea Lads Martin French and Lyn Thomas sweeping all aside them in both singles and doubles. The singles final went the way of French in a close 3 setter and the Welshmen with their pink tops shining through the Ulster Crowds ran away with the doubles 6-1 6-1 against Irish Pair Gareth Greene and Philip Gibson.

 

The C event was fought out by Sarah Baillie of Scotland and David McAleese from N Ireland. In the group stages they had a very tight encounter which Baillie edged in the Champions Tie Break and the final proved to be a good match also, but Sarahs experience told as she just sneaked ahead in both sets near the end and ran out a 6-3 6-4 winner.

 

So English Welsh and Scottish winners at the Belfast Wheelchair Open this year , and another fun filled event for everyone who took part and also for one or two who didn’t!! Thanks to all who helped out and also those who appeared late from Beijing!! See Ya all next year!!!!