Tennis: ANDREA Cooper lifted the Suffolk women's singles title with a 6-1, 6-4 final victory over Katie Bull - but there was no men's champion as rain washed out the final.
"TOP lawn tennis tournament final postponed due to rain". Sound familiar?
It certainly was a case of déjà vu at Framlingham yesterday as the final of the Suffolk Men's Singles fell victim to one of the torrential downpours that have been all-too common over the past week.
After a grey, cloudy but, all importantly, rain-free morning referee Gordon Blake and all other officials were keeping fingers crossed that the bad weather might pass over Framlingham.
Sadly it was not to be as just after 3pm, with the men's final barely started, the heavens opened, forcing the numerous spectators to take refuge in the crowded catering tent.
The rain eased after a short while but, although the astroturf courts have proved their worth this week, it was felt inappropriate to use them to play the finals of a Lawn Tennis Tournament. As a consequence the men's final has now been postponed until 12.15pm today, with the Suffolk Men's Doubles final scheduled to take place directly afterwards.
Despite the rain two titles were decided yesterday, the Suffolk Women's Singles and Doubles.
The singles title was won by Andrea Cooper, one of the most predictable results of the tournament. She has looked comfortable in every match she has played here at Framlingham and it is a testament to the skill and tenacity of ex-Framlingham College girl Katie Bull that the match was as close as it was.
The first set saw the Felixstowe teenager completely dominant. Serving well, firing over low, accurate, baseline drives and making herself an impassable barrier at the net, she quickly racked up a 6-1 lead. Defending champion Bull was finding the going tough, her backhand an achilles heel which her opponent was exploiting with relish. Cooper could not keep the pace going however, and the second set proved to be a more evenly contested affair.
Both players made several errors, Cooper's serve deserting her at the most crucial moments. Bull later admitted that it was during this set that she "realised that Andrea wasn't unbeatable", and it showed as she fought her way back into the game, stretching to make seemingly impossible returns.
Twice Cooper broke Bull, twice Bull broke straight back. Eventually however, to the disappointment of a partisan home crowd, Cooper's serve and volley proved just too strong for Bull.
After the game Cooper was pleased to have won, but less pleased with her performance, saying: "I played alright, apart from my serve. I played much better in the first set, but just lost my concentration a bit in the second. I was supposed to win today, so all the pressure was on me."
Bull, five times champion in this competition, was left ruing her performance in the first set, saying: "I enjoyed the second set, but in the first I didn't get anything back. I just didn't have a backhand today. If anyone knows where it's gone can they please tell me!"
Framlingham results
Men's Open Singles
Quarter-finals: S Lockwood bt S Jordan 6-3, 6-1; P Smith bt C Brock 6-1, 6-3; M Byford bt C 6-7, 6-2, 7-5; S Bell bt A Bedwell 6-1, 6-2.
Women's Open Singles
Quarter-finals: K Bull bt O Chapman 6-4, 6-1; L King bt S Precious 6-0, 6-1; S Key bt A Blackwell 6-4, 6-3.
Men's Open Doubles
Quarter-finals: G Keens & A Bedwell bt M Cain & M Elnaugh 6-4, 6-4; R Daynes & C Daynes bt S Jordan & A Jordan 6-3, 6-1; G Lamoureux & J Young bt A Knights & P Smith w/o.
Men's Handicap Singles
Quarter-finals: S Pilcher bt H Pile 3-6, 7-5, 7-5; M Seymour bt M Bayfield 6-4, 6-1; G Day bt J Kerry 6-4, 6-1; J Ruegg bt N Hudson 6-1, 6-4.
Women's Handicap Singles
Quarter-finals: D Stebbings bt S Carley 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; S Youngerman bt D Donaldson 5-7, 6-3, 6-1; J Hare bt T Wright 6-3, 6-4.
Over-45 Men's Singles
Quarter-finals: A Suckling bt J Booth 2-6, 7-5, 7-6; B Booker bt F Robinson 6-3, 6-4; P Tye bt N Crown 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. D Garman bt R Edwards w/o.
Over-40 Women's Singles
Quarter-finals: J Latham bt S Rodrigues 6-1, 5-7, 6-3; J Crown bt S Harris 6-3, 6-3; J Byron bt M Fincham 6-4, 6-4; J Hassell bt J Levi 6-3, 6-3.
Over-55 Men's Doubles
Quarter-finals: R Wilkins & D Garman bt R Thomas & J Chaffrey 6-0, 6-1; R Brabben & D Rees bt B Brown & C Aylin 6-1, 3-6, 7-5; M Ellis & C Stephenson bt R Tuckett & J Davis 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Over-40 Women's Doubles
Second round: M Du Ry van Beest Holle & J Levi bt G Cooper & J Barwell 6-1, 6-0; M Charles & A Woodings bt S Tilbrook & J Quilley 6-4, 6-1.
Suffolk Women's Singles
Final: A Cooper bt K Bull 6-1, 6-4.
Suffolk Women's Doubles
Final: S Jermy & L Rogers bt L Woods & A Cooper w/o.
Under-18 BoyS' Singles
Quarter-finals: G Johnstone bt L Austin 6-1, 6-3; R Berryman bt M Byford 7-6(5), 6-1; C Burney bt A Collingwood 5-7, 6-1, 7-5; K Mee bt M Cooper 6-2, 6-4.
Under 18 GirlS' Singles
Semi-finals: S Cousins bt O Chapman 6-0, 6-1; L King bt S Key 6-4, 6-3.
Under 16 BoyS' Singles
Quarter-finals: G Johnstone bt M Cooper 6-4, 6-1; A Collingwood bt S Pitchford 7-6, 6-2; S Gould bt S Fuller 7-5, 4-6, 7-5; J Barnard bt W Harrison 6-4, 6-7(10), 6-3.
Under-16 GirlS' Singles
Quarter-finals: Lauren Thompson bt L Grant 6-0, 6-0; G Collett bt L Mee 6-3, 4-6, 6-1; Louise Thompson bt R Howard 6-3, 7-5; H Bass bt M Jenney 6-0, 6-0.
Under-14 BoyS' Singles
Quarter-finals: S Fuller bt D Stephens 7-5, 6-4; H Hazlewood bt A Watling 6-4, 7-6; B Levi bt H Hutchison 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; B Roberts-Law bt J Hazlewood 6-4, 6-2.
Under-14 GirlS' Singles
Quarter-finals: J Monson bt O Campbell-Lamerton w/o; K Trueman bt R Jones 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; Louise Thompson bt L Fincham 6-1, 6-3; R Howard bt K Daniel 6-4, 6-2.
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