South African Wesley Whitehouse had to fight hard but eventually came through to win the men’s title at the Fuji Xerox Auckland Tennis Champs. The women’s singles also saw a battle as 17-year-old Sacha Jones defeated 13-year-old surprise finalist Tanya Samodelok in three sets.

 

 

 

 

In windy conditions at the

Scarbro

Tennis

Park in was Adam Thompson who took the initiative and the first set against Whitehouse 6-4, however the South African who now resides on the

North

Shore won the second set 7-5 and then raced away with the title 6-1 in the third set.

 

 

 

 

Earlier in the day Whitehouse had beaten GD Jones in straight sets and Thompson accounted for Andrew Batie in his semifinal.

 

 

 

 

Jones ranked at just over 300 in the world was expected to cruise through her final but Samodelok had already proven her worth with wins over current WTA ranked player Shona Lee and former professional Tracey O’Connor in the semis.

 

 

 

 

Samodelok won the first set 6-4 after Jones had a big lead and came close in the second set but the older player managed to scrape together a 7-5 victory. The experience of Jones showed through in the third set with a 6-2 win to take away the title.

 

 

 

 

Fuji Xerox

Auckland Champs Results:

 

 

Men’s semifinals

 

 

(1)Wesley Whitehouse bt (3)GD Jones 7-5 6-2,

 

 

(2)Adam Thomson bt (4)Andrew Batie 6-0 6-2.

 

 

Final: Whitehouse bt Thompson 4-6 7-5 6-1

 

 

Women’s semifinals:

 

 

(1)Sacha Jones bt (3)Kairangi Vano 6-4 4-6 6-4

 

 

Tanya Samodelok bt (4)Tracey O’Connor 6-3 4-6 6-2

 

 

Final: Jones bt Samodelok 4-6 7-5 6-2.