Rotorua's Logan Nathan (15) reaches for the ball during the Tennis Bay of Plenty Residential Tournament on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser
Rotorua's Logan Nathan (15) reaches for the ball during the Tennis Bay of Plenty Residential Tournament on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser
After years of dormancy the Tennis Bay of Plenty Residential Singles Tournament has been resurrected.
Tennis Bay of Plenty chairman Geoff Kaye said the tournament for players from Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo, which was held at the Rotorua Tennis Club on Saturday, had not been played for "a number ofyears".
"We had all ages playing, from juniors up to the open men and women, and there was some great talent on display. We had some excellent matches and everyone played with a lot of enthusiasm," Kaye said.
In the open men's final, No 1 seed Shaun Tamai locked horns with a familiar face, 15-year-old Logan Nathan who he plays with in the Rotorua-Lynmore men's premier team.
Nathan pushed Tamai all the way, but in the end Tamai's experience shone through and he took the win.
"Logan is a great up and coming player with a bright future, but Shaun has inherent tennis class. The benefit of the tournament is the kids in the younger grades get to watch these top guys play and it gives them something to look up to," he said.
Tennis Bay of Plenty Residential Singles Tournament winners. Photo / Supplied
Tamai said it was his first hit-out since last year, having just recovered from injury.
"It was definitely to come back with a win and test the legs. The final was tough, Logan pushed me to my limits, I definitely had to find fifth gear, but I got there in the end. It was very rewarding after being injured for a couple of months, to be on court was a bonus, to win was the icing on the cake.
"It was a great day yesterday, there were about 60 competitors throughout all the age groups. With the younger generation coming through it's great to see the potential they have and watch them embrace the sport," Tamai said.
The women's open final was played between two experienced Rotorua players, Leona Davis-Kaye and Debbie Dowland, with Dowland coming out on top.
The pair have played plenty of tennis together in the past for Rotorua's premier women's team and the fact they knew each others games so well set up an entertaining final.
Tennis Bay of Plenty Residential Singles Tournament winners
Open men: Shaun Tamai Open women: Debbie Dowland 16 girls: Daniella Tuhairwe 14 girls: Lily Gordon 12 girls: Scarlett Dowland 10 girls: Vienna Wearea-Tamai 16 boys: Logan Nathan 14 boys: Boaz Mellor 12 boys: Sol Pickering 10 boys: Tom Weston
