Davis Cup player Adam Thompson showed added resolve and determination to win his first Auckland tennis title in blustery conditions last night.
Thompson beat third seed Robbie Cheyne in two tie breaks at the Tennis Park in Glen Innes.
They worked hard in numerous extended rallies when theball sometimes moved in several directions on one shot.
Cheyne took an early lead in the first set but Thompson forced the tie break, which he won 7-5.
In the second set it was Cheyne who had to come back, holding off a couple of match points before a tie break, which again Thompson won 7-5.
"I'm really pleased," Thompson said. "I grew up watching my brother [Mark] play in this tournament - I think he won it too. I felt I was dominating the match and he [Cheyne] was relying on my errors."
Dianne Hollands won the women's title, beating top seed Shona Lee 6-4, 6-2. The match was an opportunity for Hollands, 23, to show she can play on the professional circuit next year.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Residentials start today with most interest in the men's top seeds. The singles draw is one of the largest, with more than 70 players entered. Dan King-Turner at No 1 has an ATP ranking of 468 and is still hoping to impress Heineken Open tournament director Graham Pearce to gain a main draw wildcard in next month's event.
The second seed is Michael Venus, 19, who has been on a tennis scholarship at the University of Texas. He has six ATP ranking points and won the USTA under-18 national clay court title, which gained him a place in the US$600,000 ($87,000) ATP Tour event at Washington DC this year.
The third seed is Adam Thompson and the fourth is Bay of Plenty's Austen Childs.
In the women's draw, the top seeds are Lee, who has a WTA ranking of around 600, former international Ilke Gers, plus Kairangi Vano and Hollands, who are aiming to get ASB Classic wildcards.
