Canberra Velocity has battled through two hard fought matches with different outcomes for the teams. After singles and doubles both teams were locked at 3 rubbers all, with the Women victorious, winning by 1 set against the UTS Lizards, while the Men went down by 1 set to the Sydney University Lions.
The match between the Velocity and Lizards was the top of the table clash. Alison Bai got Velocity off to another strong start against Abbie Myers. With Bai currently ranked WTA 490 and Myers WTA 572 it was set to be a tough match up. The first set was tight with Bai taking it in a tiebreak 5-3. Bai then proved too strong in the second taking it 4-1 to put Velocity up 1-0. Imogen Clew battled against Lucie Kreigsmannova going down 4-1, 4-2 to even the scores. Tyra Calderwood then hit back for Velocity with a straight sets victory over Sonja Balic 4-3, 4-0. Maria Vais won the first set 4-2 against Jess Engles, then lost a close second set in a tiebreak. Engles then proved too strong in the 3rd 4-2 to once again level the scores.
The doubles pairings were changed up from round 1 with Bai and Calderwood proving to be a successful combination defeating Kreigsmannova and Engles 4-3, 4-1 to clinch the 3rd point for Velocity. In the other doubles Myers and Balic proved too strong for Vais and Clews, dropping only 2 games. With scores locked at 3 rubbers all, Velocity came out on top winning by 7 sets to 6.
The Men’s match proved to be just as competitive with both teams looking to bounce back from defeats in round 1. Jake Okines proved he is calm under pressure taking out 2 tiebreakers in his 3 set win over Kris Balakrishnan to put Velocity up 1-0. The Lions didn’t take long to hit back with Chris O’Connell defeating Jake Eames in a tough 3 setter at the number 1 position. With Robert Howe down 0-4, 0-1 against Alex Silcock, Alun Jones subbed in for Howe but Silcock was on a roll and put the Lions up 2-1. James Frawley then took to the court against Steven Goh to try and even things up for Velocity taking the first set 4-2. The second went to a tiebreak, with Goh coming out on top. It then came down to the wire in the third set again going to a tiebreak. With scores locked at 4-4 in the tiebreak, Frawley won the sudden death point to lock things up at 2-2.
The doubles matches both went down to the wire with Alun Jones and Jake Okines coming out victorious 4-1, 1-4, 10-7. In the deciding doubles match, the first 2 sets were split and Velocity needed to win the supertiebreaker in order to clinch victory. Unfortunately the pairing of O’Connell and Goh proved too strong for Eames and Frawley winning 10-5. With the scores locked at 3-3, Velocity were defeated by 9 sets to 8 in a tie that lasted for almost 5 hours.
Canberra Velocity will return to action on Sunday the 30th of November with the Women at Sydney University and the Men at Manly Lawn Tennis Club.
Canberra Velocity 3 d UTS Lizards 3 (Velocity won 7 sets to 6)
Singles
No 1. Alison Bai (CV) d Abbie Myers (UTSL) – 4-3 (3), 4-1
No 2. Tyra Calderwood (CV) d Sonja Balic (UTSL) – 4-3 (2), 4-0
No 3. Imogen Clews (CV) l Lucie Kreigsmannova – 1-4, 2-4
No 4. Maria Vais (CV) l Jess Engels (UTSL) – 4-2, 3-4, 2-4
Doubles
No 1. Bai/Calderwood (CV) d Kreigsmannova/Engels – 4-1, 4-3(3)
No 2. Vais/Clews (CV) l Myers/Balic (UTSL) – 1-4, 1-4
Canberra Velocity 3 l Sydney University Lions 3 (Lions won 9 sets to 8)
Singles
No 1. Jake Eames (CV) l Chris O’Connell (SUL) – 4-2, 1-4, 0-4
No 2. James Frawley (CV) d Steven Goh (SUL) – 4-2, 3-4 (3), 4-3 (4)
No 3. Jake Okines (CV) d Kris Balakrishnan (SUL) – 4-3, 1-4, 4-3
No 4. Robert Howe (CV) l Alex Silcock (SUL) – 0-4, 2-4
Doubles
No 1. Eames/Frawley (CV) l O’Connell/Goh (SUL) – 2-4, 4-2, 5-10
No 2 Okines/Jones(CV) d Balakrishnan (SUL) – 4-1, 1-4, 10-7
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