Top seeds advance in champs

Most of the seeds survived night one of the Marlborough Residential Tennis Championships at Forrest Winery Marlborough Tennis Centre on Wednesday.

Fifteen seeded combinations took to the courts during the first day's play at the Quench Cafe and Wine Bar-sponsored tournament with only women's third seed Annabelle Fluit and men's doubles fourth seeds Peter Rogge and Neil Sonne knocked out.

Rogge and Sonne lost a close quarterfinal to fifth seeds Robert Cowlishaw and Chris Schollum, who became the first combination to book a semi spot.

The Renwick duo showed an improved combination from their previous outing in the interclub final to overcome the usually tough-to-beat Rogge and Sonne.

In first-round men's doubles matches, No6 seeds Mark Evans and Tony Fenemor beat Simon Kelly and Hiro Kishida 9-4 while the father-son combination of Allen and Ellis Diamanti overcame Brian Martin and Gary Tait by the same score.

Fluit, the third seed in the women's singles, was upset 7-5, 4-6, 10-5 by the experienced Sandy Stubbs.

However, the other three seeds all advanced.

Top-ranked Eveline Apthorp cruised by Sheena Thomson 6-0, 6-2, while second seed Lynn Murray topped promising youngster Lily O'Fagan 6-3, 6-1.

Fourth-seeded Elaine Fluit overcame a stiff first-set challenge from Sarah Maxwell to win 6-4, 6-1.

It was mainly smooth sailing for the four seeds who took the court in the men's draw.

Top seed Neil McPhee didn't drop a game in overcoming Evans while No2 seed Anthony Walkenhorst beat Kishida 6-2, 6-2 and third-ranked Cowlishaw overcame 12-year-old Andrew Forgesson 6-1, 6-2.

Fifth seed Jeremy Crouch was the only seed pushed, eventually downing Ellis Diamanti 6-3, 7-6.

Only two women's doubles matches were played, with second seeds Apthorp and Sally Jackson beating Dale Hyland and Debs Simpson 9-4, and third-seeded Elaine Fluit and Ros Suter able to withstand a strong showing from Judy Shanahan and O'Fagan 9-6.

Teenage mixed doubles fourth seeds Crouch and Hannah Mooney topped Peter Stubbs and Loren Sampson 9-7 to move into the semis while in the closest match of the night, Stuart Paul and Claire Bramley beat Nick and Marianne Pecchenino 9-8..

- The Marlborough Express