A busy day on court sees 19-year-old Claire Vigrass become the youngest women to win British Women’s Open Real Tennis singles Championship and bag the doubles title too.
Vigrass took the singles title in straight sets, 6-2 6-3, from her main rival Karen Hird.
Their progression to the final was fairly academic with Vigrass defeating US hopeful Freddy Adam and Hird dispatching Jo Miller in the semis.
The victory is particularly sweet for Vigrass who notches up her first major win against French Open champion Hird. In previous meetings, Hird’s wise tactics and range of shots have got the better of Vigrass. Though the match was closer than the score suggests, Vigrass remained focused and didn’t let Hird disrupt her rhythm.
The win should bump Vigrass up to number 2 in the world, behind reigning world champion Charlotte Cornwallis who is currently sidelined by a long-term hand injury.
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Over in the doubles, Vigrass got a second taste of success on court, partnering US number 1 Adam to beat Alex Garside and Aldona Greenwood in the doubles final.
Despite some fine retrieving and clever tactical play from surprise finalists Garside and Greenwood, who knocked out second seeds Hird and Jo Iddles in the semis, the Vigrass- Adam combination proved unstoppable. Big-hitting Adam produced some explosive winners but it was Vigrass’s extra weight of shot which tipped the balance of play.
Alice Neal, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image cerdit: Jeremy Gilmore
