Dunedin teenagers Harry James and Libby Scott (both 17) took the Otago Open titles in straight sets yesterday.
James was too solid and powerful off the ground and was able to go up a level to break serve at the key moments in each set. He was seeded third and beat the fourth seed Alex Low from Nelson 6-4, 6-3 in the final.
Both players used heavy top spin on the slow indoor surface, but it was James who showed more intensity and superior movement, especially away from his previous shot, and Low was often left floundering at the net.
Georgia Hume led 3-2 in the women's final before going down to Scott 3-6, 0-6.
"I was quite tight at the start but as the set went on I relaxed and went for my shots a bit more," Scott said of her 10-game streak.
"I thought I started well but then she just hit so many winners and big serves," Hume reflected on her second straight Otago final loss to Scott.
In the men's semifinals, James beat second seed Patrick Nolan, of Canterbury, 7-5, 6-0, gradually increasing the pressure through his accurate ground strokes.
Low beat top seed Oliver Cuthill (Southland) in a battle of the big serves. Cuthill was the first to blink when he sent a simple volley long at 3-4 in the third set, and Low wasted no time in serving out the match.
Fifth place in the men was claimed by Robin Jamieson (North Otago), who won the special plate, while Carlos Reid (14) won the plate.
The women's doubles went to Scott and Hume, who lost only three games in their three matches.
The men's doubles went to veteran Phil Mirfin and Jamieson who beat Low and James Leggett 6-2 6-4. Mirfin had been close many times, especially in doubles, but this was his first Otago title.
