Bendigo, 6 December 2010 | tennis.com.au

Local residents in Bendigo have enjoyed a fantastic weekend of tennis at the WM Loud Bendigo International, with Samuel Groth (Vic) and Timea Babos of Hungary claiming the men’s and women’s titles at the final Australian Pro Tour event of the year.

Groth defeated in-form German No.3 seed Sebastian Rieschick before defeating Benjamin Mitchell (Qld) in an entertaining final.

Mitchell dropped only one set for the entire tournament but the No.8 seed proved too strong in the end.

The title is Groth’s third Pro Tour victory and first in Australia this year, after finishing runner-up at the Latrobe City Loy Yang Tennis International last month.

In the women’s draw, Victorian Tammi Patterson was defeated in the semifinals by eventual winner Timea Babos of Hungary.

After defeating No.1 seed Alicia Molik (SA) in the second round of the tournament, Babos went on to defeat Elitsa Kostova of Bulgaria in a competitive three-set final.

Monday 6 December – latest results

Men

Futures
Australia F13 Futures  – Bendigo, Australia (Hard)
SF Benjamin Mitchell (Qld) def Dayne Kelly (Vic) 7-6(7)  7-6(13)
SF [8] Samuel Groth (Vic)  def [3] Sebastian Rieschick (GER) 7-6(0)  6-2
F [8] Samuel Groth (Vic) def Benjamin Mitchell (Qld) 7-6(7)  6-4

Women

ITF
USD $25,000 Bendigo 2010  – Bendigo, Australia (Hard)
SF Timea Babos (HUN) def Tammi Patterson (Vic) 6-4  3-6  6-2
SF Elitsa Kostova (BUL) def Sacha Jones (NZL) 3-6  6-4  6-4
F Timea Babos (HUN) def Elitsa Kostova (BUL) 3-6  6-3  7-5