Tennis is the big winner in The Newry Open 2023

Newry Tennis Club brought the sport to life over the last few week’s with the tennis courts at home and away witness to some scintillating displays of talent, also from near and far.

​Over 16 days there were 91 competitors representing nine different clubs and that varied list contributed hugely to the success 2023 Best Property Services Newry Tennis Open. Newry Tennis Club would like to thank each and every one of them for travelling to our beautiful courts.

Memories made

A couple of memories include the huge serve of the very affable Richard Cairns from the Belfast Boat Club, Rian McArdle running straight to his Debutants Ball after winning his doubles quarter final, the re-emergence of Caitriona Ruane after a decade away for the former top 10 Irish player, Shane Rogers playing whilst on a sojourn from New York, Erin Patterson winning a senior Ladies Plate final at just 14 years of age and Anne Marie Brophy who turned up to play at 9am before her wedding anniversary.

So that was the tournament’s earliest start, but the club had also its latest ever finish with Alex Staselovich victorious for the second time in one night at 11.55pm. 

Location, location, location

In a unique twist the club also utilised four locations. We had matches across the border in picturesque Carlingford, regal Dundalk and the indoor Newry Bubble as well as the Warrenpoint Road main location. There were two storms during the tournament, Anthony and Betty yet we avoided them enough to end on time. 

Shane wins his sixth while the women rock

The Men’s singles was won for a sixth time by the remarkable Shane McAteer who first won the title as an 18 year old and now is utterly dominant at this club. In the final he faced the Portadown club member Dan Bennett originally from Surrey and a former ITF player on the world circuit.

Knowing it was a difficult task, Dan tactically used sliced backhands with no pace to disrupt the rhythm of Shane and although it worked in parts, the sheer athleticism and lack of any type of errors meant Shane won comfortably again.

The Open had its highest standard Women’s Singles tournament in well over a decade. This final was between Eimear Downey of Banbridge and Deborah Routledge from Lisburn Hilden club.

With intense rallies Eimear was able to hit with fiercer topspin and an all court game against the lovely shot making ability of her opponent.

Doubles Delight

The Men’s Doubles was a unique experience as father and son Malachy Gerard and Shane McAteer won together for the first time with a huge performance against Tim Smith and the many times victor Giby Vettiankal.

The McAteer's were up for this encounter and Shane was hitting every forehand with pace and penetration whilst dad picked off the shots at the net. In 2022 Shane had won this title with his brother Malachy Patrick now it was his father’s turn in the spotlight.

After the 2022 version being held indoors in the Bubble, it was back to the Warrenpoint Road site for the women’s doubles. Eimear Downey achieved the double alongside Dorothy Blair. These two became friends after competing against one another last year and now are taking on all comers together.

They ousted the 2021 champions Deirdre Dinsmore and Alison Dunne with Ms Downey’s family watching from the sidelines and delighted to see her win the trophy.

You would have thought Shane McAteer had already achieved everything possible in this club but he added another milestone with the Mixed title and that meaning his first ever treble of the main draw Opens.

Here with Deborah Routledge, they used power and panache to overcome the immensely popular team of Tim Smith and Shauna Matthews. Shauna has done so much for the club with a weekly junior programme so everyone was glad to see her play so well in a major final.

But there was no stopping that man McAteer for his fifth Mixed title with four different partners since 2018.

The Men’s Singles Cup went to Philip McGuinness from Dundalk who is a metronomic whiz at tennis as he beat Hilltown lad Andrew Byrne who has been a top 10 ranked Newry member for a decade and this was his first singles final.

In the Men’s Plate the enthusiastic Marc Loughman survived a tense champions tiebreak finale against Alex Staselovich. The Men’s Cup went to Sean Pearce originally from Dromalane and Brian O’Hare who used silky volleys and canny drives to oust Neil McMahon from Ballyholland and James O’Hare. 

In the Men’s Plate Marc Loughman survived a tense champions tiebreak finale against Alex Staselovich. The Men’s Cup went to Sean Pearce originally from Dromalane and Brian O’Hare who used silky volleys and canny drives to oust Neil McMahon from Ballyholland and James O’Hare.

Kieran Campbell won his second Men’s Doubles Plate, 11 years after the last time alongside Chris Zak as they beat the Gaelic football players from Castlebellingham Cian Geeney and Shane Rogers.

Derval Campbell the Chair of Warrenpoint Tennis Club teamed up with her club associate Siobhan Rafferty to win the Women’s Doubles Plate, the third time Siobhan claimed this title as they beat Eleanor Flanagan and Anne Marie McVeigh.

The thriving Newry Tennis Club is proud to have staged such an impressive event fand are keen to further develop the tournament.

RESULTS

MEN’S SINGLES: Shane McAteer beat Dan Bennett 6-1 6-3

WOMEN’S SINGLES: Eimear Downey beat Deborah Routledge 6-4 6-3

MEN’S DOUBLES: Shane and Malachy G McAteer beat Giby Vettiankal and Tim Smith 6-3 6-1

WOMEN’S DOUBLES: Eimear Downey and Dorothy Blair beat Alison Dunne and Deirdre Dinsmore 6-4 6-2

MIXED DOUBLES: Deborah Routledge and Shane McAteer beat Shauna Matthews and Tim Smith 7-5 6-1

MEN'S CUP: Philip McGuinness beat Andrew Byrne 7-5 6-0

MEN'S PLATE: Marc Loughman beat Alex Staselovich 4-6 6-4 10-6

WOMEN'S PLATE: Erin Patterson beat Anne Marie McVeigh 7-6 6-0

MEN’S DOUBLES CUP: Brian O’Hare and Sean Pearce beat James O’Hare and Neil McMahon 7-6 6-4

WOMEN’S DOUBLES PLATE: Derval Campbell and Siobhan Rafferty beat Eleanor Flanagan and Anne Marie McVeigh 6-3 3-6 10-7

MEN’S DOUBLE'S PLATE: Chris Zak and Kieran Campbell beat Shane Rodgers and Cian Geeney 6-4 7-5

MIXED DOUBLES PLATE: Deirdre Dinsmore and Malachy G McAteer beat Derval Campbell and Cormac Moody 6-0 6-3

JUNIOR 15-17: Winner Myles Patterson

JUNIOR 13-14: Oscar Dunleavy beat Matthew McManus 1-6 7-5 7-5