Matt Spooner has been in more Wairarapa closed regional one men's singles finals than he would care to remember.
But he can recall just the two wins and is determined to chalk up number three when he plays Luke Atkinson at the Masterton Tennis Centre tomorrow.
"I've come second a lot, a guy by the name of Jono Hurley has generally stopped me going any further," Spooner said yesterday.
With Hurley now in Australia Spooner was the hot favourite for this year's title but he isn't writing off the chances of an Atkinson upset.
"Luke is a hard hitter and if he gets on his game anything could happen.Yes, I know most people will expect me to win but I'm taking nothing for granted."