Perry Crockett (Wanaka) and Heidi Blackburn (Canterbury) won the Otago indoor open tennis titles in Dunedin at the weekend.
Crockett, a professional coach and former touring professional, beat Canterbury player Andrew Palliser in the final 6-1, 6-2. He was able to hold serve throughout, often relying on a wide, swinging delivery to set up a winning volley.
Whenever Palliser threatened to get into the match, Crockett was able to find a little more intensity.
Crockett was pushed to three sets in the semifinal by another young Canterbury player, Ben Johnston, but was able to end much the stronger with a 6-0 third set.
Palliser reached the final with a 6-2, 7-5 win over another Canterbury player, James Paulik, in an entertaining contest between doubles partners.
Otago's best result was when Ryan Eggers reached the final of the special plate but lost to yet another Canterbury player, Hugo Nurse-Strang. The consolation event went to Oliver Reid (Otago).
Blackburn came through four hard singles in a closely fought women's singles round robin. There were several three-setters but the Canterbury student, who has already played for Otago, showed her consistency ahead of other Canterbury players, Annabelle Merrett and Rebecca Chapman, who came second and third.
The men's doubles was won by Paulik and Palliser, who beat Crockett and Oliver Reid in the final. The women's doubles went to Merrett and Chapman.
