SEATON Tennis Club crowned a new winner in its annual tournament as Iain Horlock held off a fierce comeback from Kevin Davis to win a pulsating men’s singles final.

Despite joining the club just six months earlier after a 10-year break from tennis, Iain had stormed through the early rounds, combining phenomenal reach with an ice-cool temperament.

But he faced a formidable opponent in Davis, his own coach. After blowing three break points in the final game of the first set, Horlock kept his cool to win the tie-break. Davis took his game up a notch with a devastating display of hitting to take the second set 6-1.

In a thrilling finale, Horlock edged ahead in the championship tie-break and won it 10-7.

The ladies’ singles final produced similar drama, as club stalwarts Jo Little and Jen Rose battled it out for the coveted title. Little produced an impressive display of power hitting to take the first set 6-2, before Rose stormed back to win the second 6-2.

In a battle of little’s power against Rose’s guile, Little finally edged ahead to win the deciding championship tie-break.

There was little rest for either Horlock, Davis or Rose as all three were back on court 10 minutes later for the men’s and ladies’ doubles.

Horlock teamed up with Peter Moroz to take on Davis and James Turton for a high-quality men’s doubles. This time Davis turned the tables on Horlock, racing with Turton to a commanding 6-2 first set.

While Horlock and Moroz briefly rallied in the second, Davis and Turton were not to be denied as they ran out 6-2, 6-3 winners.

In the ladies’ doubles, Rose teamed up with club captain Julie Hopkinson against Carol Hurst and Belinda Bawden.

With an impressive tactical approach and consistent hitting Hurst and Bawden established an early lead before closing out the first set 6-3. But in a tense and hard-fought second set, Rose and Hopkinson clawed their way back to win 6-4. Having regained the momentum, there was no stopping them as they edged ahead in the championship tie-break and never looked back.

There was just time for a banana and a change of shirt before Davis and Rose were both back on court for their third final of the day – the mixed doubles. This time Davis teamed up with Susan Green, while Rose partnered with husband Chris Rose.

Despite trailing 5-4 in the first set, Davis and Green rallied to take it 7-5, before closing out the second set 6-2.

This year’s delayed tournament – due to Covid-19 – attracted over 50 entries across a condensed series of rounds from late August to late September.

Seaton has restarted its popular Rusty Racquets sessions on Saturday afternoons for those new or returning to the game, and a full autumn coaching programme for both juniors and adults is in place under returning head coach Dave Taylor.

And with the remaining three of its six courts being resurfaced from late October, the club will continue to boast some of the best facilities in the region.

n For more information see the Seaton Tennis Club website.