Interview with triple title winners Zeeah Rona Waerea-Tamai, 10 and Dinny Mohi, 77.
They may be poles apart in ages but Te Arawa tennis players Zeeah Rona Waerea-Tamai and Dinny Mohi have success in common after both celebrating triple wins at the recent Aotearoa Maori Tennis Championships.
Zeeah, 10, won the under-10 titles in the singles, doubles with partner Hayden Fenker and mixed doubles with Boston Danford at Waikato Tennis Centre, Hamilton.
It was the first time Zeeah had competed in the annual competition, celebrating its 90th year, that pitted the country's top Maori players against each other at the end of December.
The Rotorua Tennis Club player said her double-handed backhand was her "killer shot" throughout the tournament.
"It was awesome to win just one so to win three [titles] is really cool," she said. "It was really tough in all my games but I'm most pleased about my singles win. It all came down to me and my backhand shots were strong."
Zeeah beat her doubles partner 6-1 7-5 in the singles final, and then they paired up to beat Cruz Bryce and Mahinarangi Warren 6-4 7-6(0) in the doubles before finally finishing off her triple crown with the help of Boston by beating Benji Bryce and Hayden 4-1, 4-0.
"The hardest game was definitely in the doubles. Me and Hayden had to work really hard in both sets," Zeeah said. "I really enjoyed mixing up my game and playing lots of different games. I'll definitely be back next year."
Zeeah's dad Shaun Tamai, who finished runner-up in the open singles and doubles with partner Jessie Galvin-Dawson added: "It's her attitude on and off the court that has got her so far and that will help her for the future. All her shots worked for her and she showed a lot of power in her serve, forehand and backhand."
Dinny Mohi, 77, and Zeeah Rona Waerea-Tamai, 10, both celebrated triple title wins at the recent Aotearoa Maori Tennis Championships. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Zeeah, who watched Serena Williams in action at the ASB Classic tournament this week, said she wanted to become a professional player.
"I really want to make it," she said. 'It was amazing watching Serena - she is such a powerful player and after seeing her it really made me want to improve my game. I'll be starting with my serve and will work hard on that."
Meanwhile, veteran Mohi, 77, took home three titles for the first time since entering his first Maori Tennis Championship more than 40 years ago.
The former Bay of Plenty rugby representative and New Zealand Maori All Black won the over-76 titles in the singles, doubles with partner David Goldsmith and mixed doubles with wife Val.
Mohi, who missed last year's tournament, said he was "over the moon" and said his singles victory over opponent Peter Thomas was his most pleasing result.
"It's most exciting for me," he said. "I really wasn't expecting three wins, in the past I've won two so this was extra special for me.
"[2016] really has been a special for me and to win a title playing with my wife was the icing on the cake. I couldn't have done any of this without her."
Mohi said he has no plans to retire from the game he loved.
"I am going to keep on going. I have to now to retain my titles and also keep up with all my mokopuna - they keep me going. I aim to play in the Aotearoa Maori Tennis Championships when it celebrates its 100th year."
The Te Arawa tennis community also had further success, including Paris Maxwell winning the under-14 girls' singles and coming runner-up with partner Matire Ormsby in the doubles. Local Albie Tipiwai won the 50-plus doubles with partner Jeremy Wichman.
Te Arawa tennis players, clockwise from left, Dinny and wife Val Mohi, Aliya Edwards, Albie Tipiwai, Shaun Tamai, Leona Davis-Kaye, Paris Maxwell and Zeeah Rona Waerea-Tamai. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Rotorua women's player Aliya Edwards won the 30-plus singles whilst her mother, Rotorua women's captain Leona Davis-Kaye, took home two 50-plus women's titles in the singles and doubles with partner Tia Ormsby.
"This has been one of our most successful tournaments ever," Davis-Kaye said. "It was a beautiful tournament and we want to use this success to push on with the club.
"At the moment we have a very good mix of youth and experience and the Rotorua tennis community is really bustling right now."
The championships saw more than 175 players compete across multiple grades with 22 entries from Te Arawa.
