Wanganui cousins win

Wanganui ace Paige Hourigan is now a three time under-18 New Zealand singles champion. Photo File/Bevan Conley

Wanganui teenage cousins Paige Hourigan and Kyle Butters are now New Zealand Under-18 singles champions after clinical displays in their respective finals in Auckland yesterday.

Both 16-year-olds showed their class with Hourigan beating Waikato-Bays ace Ella Hassall in straight sets 6-3 6-0, while Butters dispatched Aucklander Rhett Purcell 6-3 3-6 6-1 at Albany Tennis Park.

Hourigan has won the title three years running, when aged 14, 15 and now 16, while Butters finished runner-up last year.

Butters showed real grit and determination in his first match in three months electing to concentrate on his schooling to graduate NCEA levels 1 and 2 before picking up a racquet again.

Both are now qualified to compete in the New Zealand Open starting today and then will follow that up with an attack on the Australian junior titles held in conjunction with the Australian Open in Melbourne next month where they will rub shoulders with the likes of tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

Hourigan told the Chronicle yesterday she had felt in control throughout her two set match with Hassall despite the tough windy conditions and was happy with her performance leading up to the NZ Championships today.

"It was pretty windy today, but I did feel in control and I'm really happy with my game. I'm really looking forward to the New Zealand Champs and travelling to Australia next month," Hourigan said yesterday.

"I played in the junior Australian champs last year, but didn't go that well - hopefully that will change this time round."

Meanwhile, Butters' Wellington-based coach for the past four years, Clint Packer, said yesterday's final had caught the attention of influential New Zealand tennis hierarchy.

"Auckland high performance coach James Greenhalgh and others said it was the best final they had seen in years and I think both Kyle and Paige have opened a few eyes with their performances today," Packer said.

"When Kyle came back from Europe he was pretty disillusioned by the negativity he struck there and wasn't sure he wanted to carry on playing tennis.

"He had been falling behind in his schooling because of the amount of tennis, so he decided to take time out and concentrate on that.

"He passed NCEA levels 1 and 2 and then returned to me in Wellington, but his heart still wasn't in it. In fact, he walked off the court one day, but he's a pretty happy boy now. I think the time off has done him wonders.

"This win showed his class and has given him motivation. Entry into the men's New Zealand championships will also be good as will returning to Australia where he will be rubbing shoulders with the world's best," Packer said.

Under-18 girl's top seed Hourigan got through a tight opening semifinal set with Claudia Williams, before taking control and progressing to the final with a 7-5 6-1 win.

Under-18 boys' third seed Butters was made to work by second seed William Matheson, who took the first set 6-4. Butters forced his way back into the semi, taking the second set 6-4, before running away with the match in the third, winning 4-6 6-4 6-0.