Nielsen defends his singles crown at open

Mark Nielsen successfully defended his singles crown at the Wellington Open, claiming the $2000 winner's cheque at the sixth stop on the New Zealand money circuit.

The former Davis Cup player dominated during an all-Auckland men's final against 20-year-old Jackson Bodle, winning 6-4 6-3 at the Renouf Tennis Centre yesterday.

All the Wellington hopefuls – including Marc Paulik, Nick White and Warwick Foy – fell during Saturday's quarterfinals. Paulik was beaten by former Wellingtonian Eru Lyndon, a player he has not lost to before.

Lyndon was then outclassed in the semifinals by Bodle 6-6 6-2, while Nielsen claimed his place in the final by beating Auckland junior Anton Bettink 6-4 6-3.

Khandallah's Foy won the consolation playoff for fifth spot against Auckland junior Daniel Brown.

Nielsen, 32, was pleased with his late decision to fly south, which meant rearranging a busy coaching schedule on the North Shore. He admitted tournament play was a rarity these days, and he had only competed in one other money tournament during the summer.

But with a weak men's field for the Wellington Open, he saw his chance.

"I've always played well in Wellington, I've only lost once here in the semifinals," Nielsen said.

Nielsen cruised to the first set against an opponent 12 years his junior. Bodle fought back in the second to build a 3-0 lead, however he just as swiftly went off the boil with a string of errors.

Nielsen capitalised on the lack of depth on Bodle's shots to move his opponent around the court.

"He's [Bodle] really hit and miss. He can hit some fantastic shots and other times he misses them as well," Nielsen said. "I probably put a few more balls in the court than he did."

The women's final was another Auckland derby, with Kairangi Vano beating Brittany Teei 6-3 6-3. Vano and Teei combined to take the women's doubles from the teenage pairing of Khandallah's Bridget Liddell and Wanganui's Paige Hourigan.

Hourigan reached the semifinals of the singles but lost to Teei in straight sets, while Titahi Bay's Karina Bradnam lost in a similar manner to Vano, also in the semis.

The men's doubles final saw Thorndon's White and Paulik play Phil Seemann and Rob Kirkness. White and Paulik won the Thorndon Club duel 6-4 6-3.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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