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Fenton Leaves OTF
When Fenton Coull took over from Mike Daws as Secretary General of OTF he didn't know what he had let himself in for. OTF was growing in membership and new activities and challenges were presenting themselves. Fenton's brief in his volunteer role included responsibility for the finances of the federation, liaison with main sponsor ANZ Bank, maintaining an overview of the paid administrator's role and organising the biannual general meetings. However crucial to OTF was Fenton's ability to impart knowledge and provide guidance on the development of tennis activities and programs in the Pacific. With opportunities to visit the Pacific through meetings and events Fenton developed a great affinity for the people of the Pacific and we all gained a great friend. There were some good times had in the Pacific and we all have Fenton and Tennis Australia to thank for the opportunites to see the best players in the world on court at Melbourne Park during the OTF general meetings. Fenton, thanks for making those visits so special for us all.
Oceania Tennis thanks Fenton for his commitment to OTF and his friendship and wishes him all the very best in his new position.
We have been very lucky to have had a person of Fenton's calibre as Secretary General of OTF. His role at Tennis Australia has included being manager of the Australian Davis Cup team, the Australian Olympic Tennis team, and organiser of Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties in Australia including Davis Cup finals at Melbourne Park. Internationally he is one of tennis' most respected administrators, an advisor to ITF on Davis Cup matters and a member of the ITF Olympic committee for the Beijing Games. The picture below shows Fenton talking with Juan Margets, Exec Vice-President ITF, and Eichi Kawatei, past President of Asian Tennis.
As we farewell Fenton and look back on the terrific work he has done for the region we reflect on the purpose and role of OTF. The Oceania Tennis Federation was created in 1993 at the instigation of Tennis Australia and ITF to complete the network of regional associations around the world. It was recognised at the time that Oceania was unique among the ITF's regions in that it had two strong tennis nations and potentially 18 small island nations and territories where tennis could be developed and enhanced. In recognition of this the OTF constitution sets out the role of Australia and New Zealand in promoting tennis in the region and supporting the development of the small nations. Mike Daws, as the first JSG from Australia, and then Fenton both recognised this role and took the Oceania region to heart, steering the development of the sport in what is commonly known as "Pacific Oceania". We look forward to this relationship being maintained with our "big brother" Australia continuing to play this vital role in Oceania.
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Pacific Oceania go down 3-2 to Oman
Pacific Oceania won both reverse singles on the final day of the Asia Oceania group 2 tie in Muscat to finish with a 3-2 loss to Oman. Michael Leong played the first reverse singles against Oman's star of the first two days Mohammad Al Nabhani and lost a tough first set in a tiebreaker before getting on top of the Omani's big forehands to clinch the next two sets for the match 67(3) 63 63. It was then left to Juan Langton to wrap up the days play against Oman's number three player Sulaiman Al Rawahi 61 64.
Pacific Oceania Lose Doubles Cliffhanger
Pacific Oceania fought right to the end on Saturday but eventually succumbed in five sets in the doubles to drop the tie deciding rubber to Oman and will be relegated to Group 3 for 2009 after four years in Group 2..
The first set of the doubles went all the way to a tiebreaker without a loss of service although the Pacific pair of Cyril Jacobe and Brett Baudinet had to save 5 set points in the tenth game. Oman controlled the tiebreak winning the last four points to claim it 7-3. The third set went with serve until the 12th game when the PO pair broke serve to take the set 7-5. Growing in confidence Pacific Oceania raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set before giving back one break. Baudinet eventually served out the set to give the visitors a 2 sets to 1 lead.
The fourth set was full of drama. Baudinet dropped serve in the fourth game after Jacobe missed two volleys. Oman then held to lead 5-2 before Pacific Oceania came roaring back breaking serve twice to set up a 6-5 lead with Jacobe to serve for the match. At thirty all a winning return by Oman followed by a Jacobe double fault where there was a 60 second interruption between first and second serve while one of the Omani players remonstrated with the referee saw the Pacific team’s chance slip away. Again the tiebreak was lost 7-3 with Oman claiming the last four points.
The final set went with serve with Pacific Oceania unable to break despite twice having Oman at 0-40. At 3-3 disaster struck when Baudinet served his only double fault of the match to lose serve. Oman then held serve twice to claim the set 6-4 and the match 76(3) 57 36 76(3) 64 after more than four hours and take an unassailable three rubber lead in the tie.
Davis Cup Day 1 - PO trail 0-2
Pacific Oceania ended the first day of the Davis Cup tie with Oman trailing 2-0 after losing both singles rubbers.
Michael Leong was overpowered by the big serve and brutal forehand of Khalid Al Nabhani in the opening match. He did not hold serve in losing the first set 6-1. However in the second he fought back from 1-3 to force a tiebreaker which he lost 7-3. The Solomon Islander looked to be getting into the match when he broke serve twice to lead 4-1 in the third set. However Khalid regained his composure and won five games in a row to claim the set 6-4 and the match 6-1 7-6(3) 6-4
Juan Langton then took on Oman number one Mohammed Al Nabhani . Langton made a series of errors in the first few games and found himself behind 0-3 before getting into his rhythm and levelling the score at 5-5. A poor service game saw him fall behind 5-6 and then Al Nabhani served out the set. The Omani player was in control throughout the second set winning it 6-2 and then he raced to a 4-2 lead in the third.
Langton then began an excellent fightback reeling off four games to take the third set 6-4 and then controlling the fourth set to take it by the same score. However just when the Pacific player seemed in with a chance Al Nabhani came out firing in the fifth set hitting a stream of clean winners to break serve twice and race to a 4-0 lead. Langton did not give up, winning two games but it was not enough as the Omani served out the match. Claiming it 75 62 46 46 62 in four hours of great tennis. |
