Cranston serves up giant-killing act at Queensland seniors tournament

Karen Cranston

Ohakune's tennis ace Karen Cranston has started the new summer season in great form with victory at the 2015 TSQ Sunshine Coast Championships in Noosa, Queensland, last weekend.

The 55-year-old defeated her three Australian opponents to win the V50 women's title at the Tewantin Tennis Club, for what is a ranked ITF Seniors tournament event.

One of those victories was against a woman ranked 97 spots above her on the Women's 55 years list.

"Although the prizemoney was practically nothing it gave me valuable world ranking and ITF points," said Cranston in an email.

"This was very exciting as I had no pre-conceived ideas about winning, it just unfolded on the day and I thought I just had to make it happen."

Cranston defeated Rosemary Everett in straight sets in the first round, 6-1 6-3.

She then took on the top seed Wanda Howes, ranked second in Australia and 10th in the world for Women's 55 years, and came away with a dynamic 7-6 (3) 7-6 (7) victory.

This was considered giant-killing because in comparison, Cranston is ranked 165th for W50 and 107th for W55, as of Monday.

After this mammoth effort, Cranston went on in the final against Wendy Harrison, ranked 36th at W55, and pulled out a comfortable 6-1 6-3 win.