Comments for Hobart Real Tennis Club

Comment on Australian Open Tournament Dinner Photos by sally rackham

sally rackham — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:26:41 +0000

Would have liked to look more closely at these pics but found they took a long time to download. Could we have them at a slightly lower resolution?

Comment on Website Competition – Win a lesson with Barry by sally rackham

sally rackham — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:24:40 +0000

I really like the look of the new web site and will look forward to the on-line booking system being operational. The links all seem to work well thought I wasn’t sure I wanted info on the ‘other’ Aus Open (Federer and co) when the champtionships were on when I clicked on that link. It is good to get the results of the competitions too.

Comment on Australian Open Singles Finals by Chris Vigrass

Chris Vigrass — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:54:28 +0000

Belated thanks for great reporting. from a not disinterested – or should that be uninterested? – parent.

Comment on Australian Open – all the updates here! by Elizabeth Eden

Elizabeth Eden — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:12:36 +0000

Congratulations to all the organisers and dogsbodies on a splendid event. You’ve done the club proud.

The extended dedans worked really well, and didn’t the court look great after all the hard work that had been put into the maintenance!

The daily match reports were a great idea.

Well done, all!

Comment on Australian Open – all the updates here! by Chris Fahey

Chris Fahey — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:59:28 +0000

Keep the details coming….. great work
Would you guys let THE MERCURY know that this event is on…
it seems no one has told them..

GO ROBERT……

Comment on Website Competition – Win a lesson with Barry by Dave Mitchell

Dave Mitchell — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:03:06 +0000

The history of the club, the cameraderi, the court and associated buildings, the ambiance and the friendship shown to members. The game is like no other, combing so many aspects of many games into one co-hesive intriguing and challenging game. It keeps me enthralled each time I go out on court for a game.

The other really great thing was seeing Barry win round one of the Australian Open 2010, in three straight sets. Such a lesson in tennis to anyone wanting to take up the game, proving that youth can’t necessarily beat age and experience !!!! Top stuff.

Comment on Australian Open 2010 to be held in Hobart by Stormy

Stormy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:07:50 +0000

The Australian Open started in earnest yesterday on the Hobart court with five matches played. A large and parochial Hobart crowd was treated to both the modern power and classic length versions of the game.

The first match for the day saw Brad Dale play Mike Happell. This was Dale’s first game of competitive tennis for some time and a ruthless Happell was unlikely to give an inch. Dale played some very good shots, however Happell was too consistent, barely missing a ball.

Happell defeated Dale 6/0 6/1 6/0

The second match on court was Bret Richardson vs Pete Boyles. With very similar handicaps this match looked like it would be the most competitive of the day. Someone forgot to tell Richardson. Using a devastating return of serve force and glorious volleying Richardson raced to a 6/1 3/0 lead before Boyles steadied. Richardson still managed to win the important points and closed out the set 6/4.

The third set saw Boyles begin to restrict the Richardson return of serve and drop his error rate to be leading 4/1 when much to the surprise of the large crowd Richardson retired hurt with an adductor strain.

Boyles defeated Richardson 0/6 4/6 4/1 retired hurt

The third match proved the upset of the day when the evergreen legend of the game Barry Toates matched his guile against the youthful exuberance of Peter Estcourt. In the first set some tight serving and heavy cut from the hazard end put Estcourt under immense pressure. Estcourt’s work rate was very high, but Toates controlled the set comfortably taking it 6/2.

In the second set Estcourt showed improved retrieving forcing Toates to play an extra shot or two in most rallies. However Toates’ knowledge of the court and the game of tennis proved too much. 6/3 to Toates.

The third set was the closest of the match. The maestro was tiring (not surprising since it is 40-odd years since his first Australian Open!) and Estcourt had his chances to generate some scoreboard pressure. With the set level at 3-3 a closely fought game with long rallies saw Toates (now suffering from a leg cramp) take a 4-3 lead which quick as flash became 5-3. The parochial Hobart crowd were screaming the house down as their man appeared to close in on a famous victory. Estcourt won a fairly easy game to 15, but was stuck at the hazard end and Toates was able to take the game and the match much to the delight of a now delirious Toates family and crowd.

Toates defeated Estcourt 6/2 6/3 6/4

The first game of the women’s tournament was between Jo Bartholomew from the UK and Kate Brown. Kate has been training hard for the Open and it showed with a clinical victory. Bartholomew was always under pressure on Kate’s home court. Whilst enjoying her match, it was noted that Bartholomew was keen for the match to finish in time for her to settle in to watch the lawners match of Nadal vs Murray!

The final match gave the crowd their first glimpse of one of the tournament favorites, Rury Gunn. Gunn has been in heavy training for his upcoming world championship eliminator match. Against a supremely fit and focused Gunn his opponent Hilton Booth was not expected to threaten. However, playing some career best tennis Booth engaged Gunn in many amazing rallies displaying incredible court coverage, brilliant retrieving and deceptive forcing. The match result showed a comfortable victory for Gunn, but did little to illustrate the exhilarating tennis on display.

Gunn defeated H Booth 6/1 6/0 6/1

Looking forward to today’s play!

Comment on Australian Open 2010 to be held in Hobart by Stormy

Stormy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:38:59 +0000

The first official event of the Australian Open 2010 carnival was held in Hobart yesterday.
A fantastic dinner the night before, catered for the by super chefs Biz and Ian Ritchard ensured a well nourished field for the Pro-Am. Rob Fahey wowed the diners with his stories of hitherto unheard of historic tennis figures and Graeme Bradfield proved that lack of decency is no barrier to a successful auction.

In todays final, crowd favourite Peter Scollard teamed with RMTC’s Chris Chapman to defeat the team of Liz Eden, Ros Pitt and Pete Boyles. Both Scollard and Chapman were on fire in every match, their victory surely built arround Scollard’s near unplayable serve and Chappy’s superb retrieving.

Tomorrow is a practice day with the first round singles matches in the men’s and women’s starting on Tuesday.

See you at Scollard’s tonight! For the tournament welcome drinks.

Comment on Website Competition – Win a lesson with Barry by Jeremy Rackham

Jeremy Rackham — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:12:25 +0000

That we are the club that can. Because we have an excellent ambassador for the club and the game in Rob Fahey, everybody in the game knows of the Hobart Club. We usually manage to punch above our weight in tournaments, all striving that little bit extra because of our pride in our club.

Comment on Website Competition – Win a lesson with Barry by Janet Thorp

Janet Thorp — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:49:20 +0000

Having known, played with and watched many tennis greats over the years that I have been a member. Such personalities as Q and CCAB – the real gentlemen of real tennis.