IT WAS a tournament for the top seeds as the two singles finals went according to plan at Jim Elphick Tennis Centre on Monday.
Canberra woman Sarina Kang lived up to her billing as the number one seed with a dominant victory in the women’s final of the Riverina Open.
Dandenong's Glen Dawes then completed the double for the top seeds with a hard-fought victory in the men’s final.
Dawes prevailed 7-6 7-5 over unseeded Canberra opponent Marty Khoundavong to claim back-to-back Riverina titles.
Riverina Open tournament director Andrew Phillips said the men’s finals proved to be a fitting finish to a busy couple of days.
“It was a very close match,” Phillips said.
“The guys tournament was very strong.
“The final had faster points, they were smashing it.
“There was some very close tight tennis.”
Kang took out the women’s final with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Jessica Fassone.
Kang, 19, spent a large part of the year playing on the ITF tour in Turkey where she experienced little success.
Kang relished the warm conditions in Wagga over the weekend and dropped just one set on the way to the women’s title.
Kang made the quarter finals of last year’s tournament and went two rounds better on Monday to beat her Wollongong opponent in the final.
In the women’s doubles, it was success for Wagga women Brenda Foster and Charlotte Littlejohn.
They beat second seeds, Albury’s Charlie Hargreaves and Canberra’s Gabrielle Beaumont, 6-2 6-4 in the final.
Foster experienced more joy in the open mixed doubles when she and Wagga’s David Elliott claimed the final 6-2 6-4.
In a big day for Dawes, he combined with Wangaratta’s Douglas Smith to win the open men’s doubles final.
Dawes and Smith beat Canberra duo Max and Elwyn Stannard 6-2 6-4.
Phillips said this year’s Riverina Open has again proved a success.
“It’s been good, we had beautiful weather,” he said.
“The entries were reasonable.
“They were pretty strong in the men’s singles and doubles.
“The women’s singles were reasonable.”
RIVERINA OPEN RESULTS
Men’s open final: Glen Dawes d Marty Khoundavong 7-6 7-5
Women’s open final: Sarina Kang d Jessica Fassone 6-4 6-2
Women’s doubles final: Brenda Foster and Charlotte Littlejohn d Charlie Hargreaves and Gabrielle Beaumont 6-2 6-4
Men’s doubles: G Dawes & Douglas Smith d Max & Elwyn Stannard 6-2 6-4
