After a four-year hiatus, the SHTC Club Champs made a return on Saturday, October 14th, concluding on Sunday, October 22nd. The event featured 17 participants in the men’s singles, 3 in the women’s singles, and 8 teams in the inaugural Open Doubles competition.
Over the course of two weekends, a total of 35 matches were played in good spirits across the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, and Open Doubles categories. We extend our thanks to all the participants who contributed to making this event special, particularly those who accommodated mid-week matches to ensure the schedule remained on track. Definitely ppreciate the time taken by all to overcome a couple of unforeseen challenges!
The weather introduced some uncertainty, but eventually, the Grand Finals proceeded on schedule on the final Sunday afternoon.
The Finals kicked off with the Open Doubles match between George Batziakas & Dylan Edgely and Spiro Raftopoulos and Paul Katz. It was a rematch from the round-robin stage, where George and Dylan had narrowly won 7-5. In the Grand Final, George & Dylan delivered a strong performance, securing the 2023 Doubles Championship with a solid 6-3, 6-1 victory.
The Women’s Finals followed, featuring Masami Furukawa and Yuko Ema, partners from the MEMRLTA Tuesday team. Despite challenging windy conditions, they engaged in a captivating exchange of long rallies. Yuko’s precision in targeting the back corners made a significant difference, resulting in her impressive 6-2, 6-3 victory.
The Men’s Singles final took the last spotlight with George Batziakas facing off against Shinichiro (Shin) Mizote. The persistent wind added a layer of complexity to the match, but George’s powerful shots and spin proved to be his advantage. He secured victory with a decisive 6-1, 6-3 scoreline.
To wrap up the exciting day, the club hosted a social BBQ, with special thanks to our “resident” caterer, Anthony Green, for his efforts. It was a fantastic couple of weekends, and we eagerly anticipate the 2024 Club Champs.
