Tennis: Nico Barr shows crowd he's one for the future

Kevin McLaughlin was among the tennis players who tried their hand in the Lynmore Open Doubles Championship. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua tennis fans could have witnessed the country's newest hope on the big stage.

Nico Barr, who is just 17, paired up with Whakatane's semi-pro Mark Ratana to win the Lynmore Open Doubles Championship on Saturday.

The pair beat Rotorua's Sean Martin and Steve McCashin in such a closely fought battle it was a solitary dropped serve that finally separated them.

Tournament organiser and Lynmore Tennis Club men's club captain Trevor Thompson said the final was always going to be between these two pairs.

"It was the most skilful and close championship final I've ever seen," said Thompson.

"The standard was exceptionally high. Nico Barr is only 17 and he's got a hell of a future ahead of him. It was a pretty intense match. Mark is a top player as well as a coach in Germany and you know who he plays with is going to be good.

"It was only a dropped serve that separated them, you can't get much closer than that."

In the women's championship it was mother and daughter pairing Leona Davis-Kaye and Aliya Edwards who won the title 11-4 over Wendy Wrigley (Rotorua) and Janis Smith (Tauranga).

"Leona was very pleased to say she won with her daughter. It was a high standard match but not as close as the men's."

The championship attracted players from across the upper North Island with play from 8.30am until 6.30pm.

RESULTS

Women: Championship: Leona Davis-Kaye & Aliya Edwards (Rotorua) beat Wendy Wrigley (Rotorua) & Janis Smith (Tauranga); Special Plate: Wynel Raureti-George & Ramari Raureti (Rotorua) beat Val McLoughlin (Rotorua) & Di Butler (Auckland) 9-2; Plate: Wendy Hiha (Rotorua) & Judy Larsen (Taupo) beat Christine Brake & Sally Shaw (Rotorua) 9-4; Consolation plate: Trish Baird & Trina Roberts (Hamilton) beat Greta Anema & Christy Amery (Rotorua) 9-2.

Men: Championship: Mark Ratana & Nico Barr (Whakatane) beat Sean Martin (Rotorua) & Steve McCashin (Rotorua) 10-8; Special plate: Stew Wylds & Jade Warren (Whakatane) beat Jesse Galvin & Oscar Nathan (Rotorua) 10-9 (t/b); Plate: Richard Owen & Bruce Irving (Hamilton) beat Dave Lockwood & Scott Gretton (Taupo); Consolation plate: Dave Brake (Rotorua) & Clive Donald (Te Puke) beat Paul Hodge & James Twist (Rotorua) 9-5.