THE Guernsey women’s tennis team achieved what they set out to do as they won their first round match with the Isle of Wight on the clay courts of Bolhalla Tennis Centre.
In blisteringly hot conditions yesterday morning, Tracey Hubert and Jo Dyer won their singles matches to ensure that the Sarnians claimed the honours 2-0 and that a doubles match was not required.
‘That was what we wanted to do, to get through the first round then we can just enjoy this,, said women’s team manager Richard Smeed.
‘We can just go for it. There’s nothing to lose.’
Hubert (pictured) never looked in trouble in her match with Netta Pakenham-Walsh.
The 28-year-old has recently returned to the island after more than six years in the UK to take up a PE teaching position at St Sampson’s High.
She competed in the 2001 Isle of Man Games as part of the Guernsey women’s basketball team.
The powerful Hubert won both sets 6-2. ‘It was just brilliant,’ said Hubert about the victory.
‘I’ve not played a proper singles match in ages and I’ve not played on clay before. It was blooming hot out there.
‘I just stuck to the game plan.’
Dyer followed this with an equally impressive performance as she put Philippa Harrison away 6-4, 6-0.
The Guernsey number two played to her superior fitness over the tall Harrison as she stuck to the baseline and kept the rallies going.
The Isle of Wight player ran out of steam in the second.
‘I thought I played well,’ said Dyer.
‘It was a completely different game to what I’m used to. It was a tough match.’
However, Guernsey lost their quarter-final tie with the strong home side of Aland, as Hubert went down 6-0, 6-0 at the hands of Linda Jansson in the first singles match.
Jo Dyer squared the match but in the deciding doubles Chantelle Frith and Hubert lost 0-6, 3-6 to the formidable Jansson and Pauline Nordlund.
Article posted on 29th June, 2009 - 2.28pm
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