Despite losing a number of players through Covid-19 positives and those required to isolate, all the 236 matches needed to complete all events of the the 2021 Bolton Tennis Tournament were played.
The warm weather gave the event its first fully dry week for many years and all venues were able to run matches with officials stationed outside, minimising coronavirus risks.
There was some disappointment however that due to insufficient entries the girls’ under-18 singles and the women’s handicap singles did not take place.
All the junior events were completed before finals day due to a number of players going away on Friday or Saturday.
For all other events the finals took place on the Saturday with handicap events mainly at Lostock and the level events at Markland Hill.
Both venues attracted good crowds for the finals as had been the case through the week and were entertained with some excellent tennis.
Amy Hadjinicolaou starred winning all three of her events.
In the women’s singles she was pushed hard by a newcomer to the tournament, Mariam Meftah.
At just 11 years old Mariam pushed Amy hard but Amy’s experience got her through 6-4, 6-3 although Mariam proved she is a real talent and could be a star of the future.
Amy was pushed hard again in the women’s doubles.
Paired with Rebecca Baldwin they took on Natalie Flinn and Hannah Dazley. Another high-quality match saw the Bradshaw pair win 7-5, 7-6 with Rebecca’s serving proving to be the key weapon. Onto the mixed doubles final where Amy, playing with Scott Williams, lost the first set to Will Hart and Emily Digby 6-4. Amy and Scott found an extra gear and took the next two sets 6-4 and 6-2 to give Amy her hat-trick and deprive Will of the same.
Also in three finals Will started with a brutal demolition of Ian Axford.
He took the first set 6-0 and whilst Ian tried hard to come back in the second Will took it comfortably by a 6-3 margin.
Onto the doubles where once again Will, paired with Martin Bromley, again faced Ian, paired with Greg Collins.
Will and Martin retained their title of 2019 by a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline.
Martin Bromley and Will Hart (winners), Greg Collins and Ian Axford (runners up)
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