The Stratford Tennis Club has crowned its 2012 singles champions. On a beautiful night for tennis, with over 60 spectators packing the clubhouse and the park, the players put on a great display of tennis.
The Ladies ‘A’ singles final was a match up of the top two seeds. Defending champion Krista Plociennik took on Claire Scott in a match that went three sets. Plociennik dominated the first set , powering her way to a 6-1 victory. The second set saw Scott use her exceptional defensive skills to return shot after shot, eventually taking the set 7-5. The third set saw Plociennik change some of her tactics. With Scott playing way back to run down Plociennik’s powerful ground strokes Plociennik started employing some drop shots to great effect. This helped lead Plociennik to a 6-1 victory in the final set and another championship. This is Plociennik’s fifth Ladies ‘A’ singles title in the last six years, cementing her spot as one of the best female tennis players in the history of the Stratford Tennis Club.
The Men’s ‘A’ singles saw defending champion Bob Tamblyn face off against two-time finalist Richard Bast. Bast played his great power game, with big serves and hard hitting ground strokes, but it was no match for the smart and steady Tamblyn. Showing off his remarkable footwork and shot control Tamblyn withstood the attacking Bast, winning the title 6-2 6-3. This is Tamblyn’s ninth Men’s ‘A’ singles championship which is the most in the 44 year history of the Stratford Tennis Club.
The Ladies ‘B’ singles final had 2008 champion Marilyn Leasa facing 14 year old Alexandra Andrekovic. Andrekovic had fought her way to the final with great comebacks. In her quarterfinal match Andrekovic trailed in the third set 4-1 before sweeping the final 5 games to move on. In one of the best matches of the tournament Andrekovic’s semifinal had her once again trailing in the third set before snatching victory from the jaws of defeat by winning 5 games in a row to squeak out a 7-5 third set win. The final did not go as long. Andrekovic out rallied Leasa and won the championship with a 6-4 6-4 victory. At 14 years old Andrekovic is the second youngest winner of the Ladies ‘B’ singles title. (Plociennik was 12 years old when she won this title in 2005)
The Men’s ‘B’ singles final was a battle between long-time friends Brent Hiller and Pat McCarroll. In the previous 14 years that the Men’s ‘B’ singles has been contested it had been won by a junior player 13 times. This year would see the second adult to win the title. McCarroll took the first two games of the first set but didn’t have the energy to penetrate the defense that Hiller displayed. Keeping the ball in play and moving it around the court, Hiller ground out a 6-3 6-1 win to take the 2012 Men’s ‘B’ singles championship. This is Hiller’s first Club championship title.
The 2012 Club championship tournament will conclude this Sunday with the postponed Men’s ‘A’ doubles final, where youngsters Grant McPherson and Travis Hiller will take on Bob Tamblyn and Kurt Eickmeier.
