Tennis: Wanganui Junior Open sees first seeds beaten at weekend

Letting out some loud grunts, Daniel Alves won the Men's Open grade at the Wanganui Junior Tennis Open on Sunday.

The first seeds were all scalped in the singles tournaments at the St Johns Club Wanganui Junior Tennis Open at the weekend.

Two of the favourites made their respective finals, but four of the five singles titles went to the second seeded player, with the other going to the third seed in a further upset.
In a strong 16-player Men's Open grade, Taranaki teenager Jayden Harrison had been favoured to win, but he lost the final to 22-year-old Wellington based South African Daniel Alves 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

The much smaller Women's Open, which was played as a round robin, was won by Elesha Smith, the second seed behind Lower Hutt's Sophie Painter.

One of the most exciting games of the weekend was the 10-and-under Boys final, which was a tournament that two girls were sanctioned to play in due to the low numbers of their own division.

Luca Pavkovic, the third seed, won a three-set tiebreak thriller against second seed Johnny Baird 2-4 4-2 10-8.

The 14-and-under Boys draw with 16 players went as expected with top seed Sam Baird in the final with fellow Wellington player and second seed Zeno Varouhas-Poole.
However, the finishing order was reversed as Varouhas-Poole climbed back to beat Baird in three sets, 5-7 6-2 6-1.

Zino Varouhas-Poole claimed the 14-and-under Boys title.

There was no sign of top seed Reagan Pine of Mangaraki in the 14-and-under Girls final, as second seed Maria Galatescu faced off against surprise finalist and fourth seed Brooke Morgan, with Galatescu taking the match 6-1 6-4.

The doubles finals were being concluded at press time.

The Open continues today and tomorrow with the 12-and-under and 16-and-under tournaments.

Ruby McIntyre was one of the players flying the Whanganui flag at the weekend.