The 2024 Collaroy Club Championships have continued to provide some spellbinding battles… and having played no less than 154 matches so far (!) across 4 weekends, we’re nearing the pointy end. (Plenty of photos in the gallery below.) It’s so good to see players of all ages participating, the range seriously stretching from just 12 through to 80+. Our Junior members in particular are really making their mark this year, which augurs well for the Club’s future.
Last weekend was another to savour, featuring some of the Club’s gun players in action, the emergence of others previously unknown, an upset or two and one absolute cliffhanger.
With Court 4 back in action (and looking resplendent, complete with club logo at the southern end), social players had an easier time organising sets on Saturday. Those not on court along with many others who gathered purely as spectators, filled seats on either side of the complex and were treated to some spectacular tennis.
Chris Gillis, reigning Triple Club Champion and once more the No. 1 seed, made his first appearance in this year’s event and quickly showed why he’s again favoured to take the title. Chris had two matches on Saturday, against Nick B. and Rob W. and dropped just 2 games in total. Rob gave the top seed a bit of a shock when he won his opening service game to Love, but the man ranked No. 3 in the world (55+) in 2023, quickly recovered and worked out how to play Rob’s big hitting game.
Chris played again on Sunday and was given a good workout by Jan in an excellent match, before prevailing 8-5. This puts him through to the Semi-Finals of the Men’s Singles where he will face 2024 surprise packet, Club Vice-Captain, Kenny M.
Impressively, Chris is one of three world-ranked players in the 2024 Collaroy Men’s Singles draw, along with last year’s Runner Up Michal (current ITF singles ranking of 32 in the 50+ category) and new member Albin (current ITF singles ranking of 58 in the 45+ category). How many clubs can claim that?!
The much-anticipated match-up between Michal and former U.K. Pro. Coach, Tom, was postponed. But on that side of the draw, Albin showed he too will be a force to be reckoned with. He faced a seemingly tough first-up match against athletic Jack-in-the-Box Michael B. Albin triumphed 8-4 in that one, then took on young gun Kona and again passed the test with an 8-2 victory. He will now face the winner of the match between Michal and Tom in a Semi. There’s some great tennis ahead.
Elsewhere our globe-trotting Treasurer, Damian, continued his great run in this year’s Championships, first dealing with the speedy Warren in their Masters Men’s Singles match on Saturday before triumphing over Club Captain Wil in a tight Masters Semi-Final. Damo proved to be Wil’s nemesis on the weekend as the two faced off again in a Semi-Final of the main draw Men’s Doubles, with Damo and partner Stuart S. taking down Wil and Kona 6-4, 6-5 in an exciting, hard-fought match.
Other matches of note included our gallant (and still youthful) octogenarian Konrad, who had to play Martin F. twice in one day. Though the younger former Club President triumphed in both matches, Konrad showed that keeping active and adhering to a balanced (liquid) diet can work wonders, as he regularly sprinted to short balls and snapped topspin drive volley winners to keep his matches more than interesting.
The first Semi-Final of the Ladies Doubles featured current Champ. Eri with new partner Lauren W. against reigning Singles Champ. Kelly and her partner Fiona K., also a new member. Poor Lauren crawled out of a sick bed to be on court, but with Eri playing a steady hand, she still managed to hit her trademark big serve and forehand and was simply too strong for her willing opponents. Lauren left the court in serious discomfort, collapsing on the courtside bench beside her mum, utterly exhausted. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her and Eri in the Final.
The other Ladies Doubles Semi-Final featured ‘The A Team’ (Anna and Anita) against youngsters Maiia and Sky. ‘The Kids’ got off to a flyer, winning the first set 6-2, before the guile of the ‘more mature’ pair came to the fore. In the second set, The A Team switched sides to receive, so the left-handed Anna now faced the left-handed serve of Maiia in the Ad. court. The ladies also slowed things down a bit, hitting high and long without much pace, forcing the youngsters into errors they hadn’t previously made.
But in the end, the quality of Maiia (“I’m still only 12”) and Sky (14) shone through as they won a nail-biting second set tiebreaker to take the match 6-2, 6-5. After only a short break, Maiia had to back-up with partner Harrison to play the Semi-Final of the Mixed Doubles… a match that proved to be the absolute highlight of a wonderful day.
The two teens (well… Harrison and one 'almost' teenager!) played reigning Mixed Doubles Champs., siblings Mike B. and Kelly G. This was truly one for the ages. In a match that featured big serves and huge groundstrokes from the youngsters and dazzling reflex volleys and brick wall determination from their opponents, the top seeds took a tight first set 6-5. But the young guns put that disappointment behind them, came back strongly in the second, and raced to a 6-2 victory. The Semi. then came down to a Match Tiebreak – first to 10 points.
The Match of the Day between Kelly and Michael, and Maiia and Harrison
With a crowd of onlookers hanging on every point (including the very anxious parents of both doubles teams), the score see-sawed back and forth for the first six points of the Tiebreak. Then Mike and Kelly took advantage of a couple of loose shots by their young rivals and flew to what seemed an inevitable winning lead. But the kids weren’t finished yet and fought back again with a wonderful never-say-die attitude that took the score to 8-9, the brother-sister combo. just hanging on, but with match point in hand.
Experience finally shone through, Mike and Kelly winning that last point and the match, to go through to the Final with the chance to defend their title. All players left the court to a standing ovation from the crowd, who had truly witnessed something special.
There are only a few weekends to go folks, so come down and like Maria and Lynne, watch some great tennis at your Club. This weekend will feature no less than 8 Semi-Finals, including Men’s and Ladies Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. You can find the schedule now on the Club Website at: https://www.collaroytennisclub.com.au/club-championships More photos from last weekend in the gallery below.
The Junior Club Championships will be played across Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December, and ALL Finals of the Open and Plate events will be played on Saturday 7 December, flowing on to our Club Christmas Party that evening.
We conclude the 2024 Club Championships on Sunday 8 December with the Wheelchair Championships, combined with the official opening of our newly re-surfaced Court 4. (Touring Pro. Chris O’Connell has already had a hit on the new court and given it the thumbs up!)
What a year! See you at the Club!
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