Cassar’s team retain title at TCK

After last year’s success, the team captained by Clint Cassar successfully defended their title at the 2011 San Michel Team Tournament, organised by the Tennis Club Kordin (TCK).

The tournament, sponsored by Farsons, came to a close recently with a thrilling final involving Cassar’s team and the one captained by Stephen Belli.

The final kicked off with two category C matches, namely the ladies and men’s doubles which both ended in a draw. It was then the turn of the mixed A and B players to enter the fray. Cassar’s players had the better of their opponents by winning two points for their team in the A category and a draw in the B section.

Cassar’s team extended their advantage with a good win in the men’s game but Belli’s ladies kept their team’s hopes alive with a win in the B category. Here, Cassar’s outfit was leading by two points.

The final two matches involved players from the men’s and ladies’ A category. Christine Schembri and Lucienne Meli Bellizzi, of Belli’s team, played an overwhelmingly good first set, winning it 6-1 against Leanne Schembri and Carmen Elden.

Esther Muscat and Marc Vella Bonnici led 4-1 and 5-2 in the first set of their match against Suniel Balani and Martin Zammit but the latter fought back to win the set 7-5.

It came as a surprise to most of the spectators that the second set of the ladies A game was won by Cassar’s team who sealed their victory.

The supportive crowd was certainly pleased with the nailbiting climax this year’s tournament final had to offer. Cassar’s team was very consistent throughout the competition while Belli’s side showed great fighting spirit on their way to the final.

In a statement, the TCK thanked Benedict Vidal, the director of the tournament, and Judith Ricci who assisted in the running of the event.

The presentation of trophies for the San Michel Team Tournament will be held at TCK on July 23.