Mark Gatt collected useful ranking points in the official ITF senior (+35) rankings this summer as he took part in two tournaments in the United Kingdom while continuing with his preparatory work for next year’s Davis Cup.
At the Tunbridge Wells veterans tournament (Grade 4) he beat Britain’s Richard Freeman 0-6 6-4 6-4 in the first round but was unable to make further progress as he was then paired with eventual tournament winner James Kidner, also of Britain.
Kidner beat Gatt 6-1 6-2 in the quarter-finals. In the final, Kidner had the better of compatriot Malcolm Hilliar 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Gatt also figured in the doubles event in Tunbridge. He partnered Hungarian Mihaly Bukur, who also coaches tennis in the UK, and the duo reached the semi -finals after a laboured 1-6 7-5 10-8 win over Michael Beckmann (Germany) and Paul Brigden (Britain).
Top seeds Michael Ellames and Danny Ward, of Britain, eliminated Gatt and Bukur in the last-four stage 6-2 6-0. Ellames and Ward went on to claim the men’s title.
The reward for Gatt’s encouraging performance in Tunbridge was an ITF ranking of 666 in singles and 254 in doubles. A few weeks later he entered the Woking Open Seniors Tournament (Grade 3) with high hopes of more progress in the ITF ladder.
Gatt focused solely on the singles event this time and won his first match 6-3 6-4 against the Woking Tennis Club performance coach, Mark Wisdom.
The next day he had to play Jonathan Downes on a slower porous court due to the rain. Gatt played an excellent first set, winning it 6-1 in under 20 minutes.
The second set was a different story though as the Briton claimed it 3-6.
Gatt was 4-5 down in the third set when the lights went out and the match had to be postponed for the next day.
Downes staved off Gatt’s challenge when play resumed to seal his passage with a 1-6 6-3 7-5 win.
However, before that Gatt had already beaten the no.2 seed Robert Comber 7-6 6-3 to continue adding more ranking points to his tally.
At the end of competition, his position was an improved 355 in the world for senior players over 35 years.
Gatt is now in his final preparations for the Gatorade Malta Open which starts at Marsa Sports Club on Saturday.
The finals of the Open are scheduled for October 12.