Big serving leftie Ronald Murray teamed up with Fiona Bushell to turn back the challenge of squash champions and former Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Kristian Jeffrey and Nicolette Fernandes in the Trophy Stall Mixed Doubles tennis final on Sunday afternoon.
Watched by a large supportive crowd, the super fit and energetic Fernandes and Jeffrey tried everything, but could not match up with the big serving and superior netplay of their opponents.
Murray in particular with his heavy spin serves was more than a handful for the newcomers to tennis and helped to put away the first set 6-3 as they effectively countered the heavy slice and retrieval game.
The experienced tennis pair kept up their intensity and easily wrapped up the second set 6-1, despite some entertaining play from Fernandes in particular, who had energy to spare despite the sweltering Sunday afternoon heat.
For Murray, it was his second title in two days after he picked up the Men’s 35 Doubles title whilst teaming up with Leyland Leacock.
The pair overcame a spirited effort from former winners Sandeep Chand and Andre Lopes as each player held serve in the first set up to five-all before a single service break determined the outcome at 7-5.
Good serving and volleying by Murray and Leacock helped the pair secure the title with an easier 6-2 scoreline as their opponents also had problems with their big serves.
Both teams had previously scored two wins apiece in the round robin format for the Over-35 category. In third place was Vladimir Permyakov and Navinith Hedge, who turned back the challenge of Steve David Longe and Rafael Nunez in a competitive match 6-4, 7-5
In the other matches played over the weekend, Andre Lopes and Sandeep Chand booked a spot in the Men’s Doubles final, overcoming Javed Khan and Kevin Mattai 6-1, 6-2, whilst in the other semi-final, Leyland Leacock teamed up with top junior Jordan Beaton to overcome the talented pair of 16-year-olds Joshua Kalekeyzi and Viraj Sharma.
Despite some excellent points by the youngsters, they were not able to put together good games and lost 6-2, 6-1.
Kalekeyzi and Sharma had earlier accounted for David Long and Rafael Nunez 6-3, 6-3 in their quarter-final match, whilst Khan and Mattai defeated the father and son pair Surendra and Adesh Khayyam.
The Men’s Doubles finals will be played at the Le Resouvenir Tennis Courts at 19:00h on Wednesday, Feb 5, 2020 and will feature Leyland Leacock and Jordan Beaton going up against Andre Lopes and Sandeep Chand.
Summarised Results
Men’s Doubles: Joshua Kalekyezi/Viraj Sharma defeated Steve David Longe/Rafael Nunez
6-3, 6-3
Men’s Doubles: Javed Khan/Kevin Mattai defeated Surendra Khayyam/Adesh Khayyam 6-1, 6-1
Over 35 Men’s Doubles: Leyland Leacock/Ronald Murray defeated Andre Lopes/Sandeep Chand 7-5, 6-2
Over 35 Men’s Doubles: Vladimir Permyakov/Navinith Hedge defeated Steve David Longe/Rafeal Nunez 6-4, 7-5
Mixed Doubles Finals: Ronald Murray/Fiona Bushell defeated Kristian Jeffrey/Nicolette Fernandes 6-3, 6-1
Men’s Doubles Semi-Finals: Leyland Leacock/Jordan Beaton defeated Joshua Kalelyezi/Viraj Sharma 6-2, 6-1
