Photo above of Chris Baily & Brenda Cassell – original article by tennisfoundation
Winner and Runner-Up in the First International Blind Tennis Tournament!
Chris Baily and Brenda Cassell completed an historic week for the Great Britain blind and visually impaired tennis team in Spain with winner and runner-up honours in their respective events.
Baily won the the men’s B3 singles and Cassell finished runner-up in the women’s B2 singles on the last day of competition at the inaugural International Blind Tennis Tournament.
Baily defeated Poland’s Grzegorz Korpinski 2-4, 4-2, (10-5) after a deciding match tie-break in the men’s B3 singles final. He therefore became Great Britain’s first ever champion in international blind tennis competition.
After a nervous first set the Uckfield player settled in the second set, moving his opponent from side to side to win some long rallies. Baily was always ahead in the match tie-break and completed his historic win on his own serve.
Cassell faced Chizuko Hara of Japan in the women’s B2 singles final, with Hara winning 4-1, 4-2. Hara controlled some long points to win the opening set and despite Cassell playing some great points in the second set the Japanese player’s consistency earned her the win.
Yvette Priestley also ended her tournament on a winning note to take victory in the women’s B1 singles consolation event.
After completing her round-robin matches earlier in the week Priestley returned to court to beat both Tina Lowe of Ireland and Martina Dubiel of Poland by a score of 4-1. In both matches Priestley served superbly and made some great returns.
