Aaron Osmond and Taya Powell have come home with an open doubles championship at the Victorian Grasscourt Junior Championship on Friday, January 14.
Although missing out on the singles’ title at the Wodonga Tennis Centre, it was an impressive outing for the Gunnedah Tennis Club (GTC) duo.
Powell was partnered by Laquisa Khan in the open women’s final to defeat Chelsea Elliott and Brooke Marshall 7-5, 6-2 to win the championship.
Osmond had a similar fortune, however, the match went to three sets as the 18-year-old was joined by Liam James O’Neil. The match ended 7-5, 5-7, 10-2.
Osmond who is trained by Dale Martin at the Wolseley Tennis Courts each week, spoke to the Gunnedah Times about his recent experience and how it felt to take the next step in his career.
“This was my third doubles title at the Grasscourt Championships,” Osmond said.
“I’ve won in the 14s, 16s and I now have an opens title.
“This was actually the first time I’ve made a single final away from home. I have fallen a few times in the quarters and semis, so it’s given me some good confidence for future tournaments.”
In the men’s final, Osmond went down to ex-tennis professional Brendan Moore of Lismore 6-1, 6-1 and despite the score, it was a highly competitive match.
It was Moore’s third title in the space of two weeks, so it only highlights the sheer quality Osmond possesses.
“It was a tough final, to be honest,” Osmond said.
“Brendan’s always been a top player in the region and he got over me quite convincingly.”
Osmond spoke about the improvements needed for him to hopefully claim a singles title.
“I think at the moment, it’s about finding quality hitting,” he said.
“When I had Vitorio, Cooper and Gabby at the courts, I was hitting with them a lot and that was when I was probably playing at my best.
“Now with Gabby and Vitorio away, it makes a bit of a difference. Hopefully, I’ll be able to travel around a bit and find some people to train with.”
Powell suffered defeat as well, losing out to her doubles partner Khan 6-2, 6-4 to cap off an incredible weekend.
She spoke to the Times about her experience in Victoria.
“It was such a good time, it is always good to win something like the doubles and make the final of the singles,” Powell said.
Meanwhile, there was three additional GTC members who also featured in the championships.
GTC men’s singles champion, Cooper Wilkinson lost in the quarter-final to Jade Culph 6-1, 6-2. He also progressed to the quarter-final of the doubles losing 6-4, 6-3.
Mia Wilkinson was a major highlight in the under 16s division, claiming the championship.
She topped her group in the singles, amassing 10 points in the five games played, remaining undefeated. Mia was partnered by Olivia Corso in the doubles as the pair took out the title playing two matches and winning both.
In the tier two championship, Vitorio Sardinha went down to John William Mcdonald 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-final.
He was joined by Dougall Tyrwhitt in the doubles, but they were defeated 6-1, 6-7, 9-11 in the quarter-final.
Powell’s father Luke was joined by Matt Heitmeyer as the pair won the tier four open men’s doubles championship.
