Tennis News

French schoolteacher Philippe Bourgeois was bidding to win the title for the third successive season.

But he was swept away 6-0, 6-1 by 32-year-old American newcomer Doug Keen, pastor at the Calvary Church based at Woodfield School Hall, Bilton, Harrogate.

It was a spectacular debut in the contest for Keen, powering his way home to the title on the admirable but windswept new courts of Harrogate Racquets Club. Keen's performance was just as convincing as the scorelines suggested.

Keen ditched a promising career in American tennis to join the church, having enjoyed national championship status while playing for the Kalamazoo College team back home. He took one of his national titles by defeating John Austin, brother of the more famous Tracy.

And in a satellite tournament in Lisbon he met Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten, winner of the French Open and now a major figure on the world tennis stage.

Keen went down 6-3, 6-3 in their 1994 meeting but it seemed a million miles from a windswept Harrogate in June.

Once the action started Keen created his own whirlwind with some searing forehands in a ferocious baseline battle. It was no surprise that the match was over in just 40 minutes, with Bourgeois aided in taking his only game by two unforced errors on the Keen forehand.

Bourgeois, who teaches French at Bingley Grammar School and is about to switch to a similar post at Benton Park School in Rawdon, Leeds, seemed to welcome the brief respite a broken string brought early in the match. But a change of racket did not change his fortunes.

A lean and agile Keen, who keeps in trim jogging and playing football with young members of his congregation, covered the court with ease. Sometimes dazzling winners left his rival flat-footed and head-shaking on the baseline by the sheer speed and accuracy of his placements.

At 4-0 down in the second set a downhearted Bourgeois muttered to the stop-netting: "Only two more games to go...give me a game."

And in the next game the underdog Fenchman got himself on the scoresheet. But it was only delaying the inevitable as Keen went on to romp home.

Afterwards the popular American title holder, who plays at The Academy in Harrogate, admitted he had doubts about entering the singles because of his playing record in America. Keen revealed he had telephoned tournament organisers to see if they would allow him to take part, but they had no qualms about his entering. Although Keen met all qualifications the American said he had been anxious about entering because some people might wonder why he was playing in the event.

Most thought having someone of his pedigree enhanced the event, although a minority believed he was simply too good for the North Yorkshire event.

Afterwards Bourgeois said Keen had played well. But the Frenchman thought he could have put up a better performance against his American rival. "I hope he enjoyed it more than I did," said the former champion denied the hat trick of men's titles.

After securing the trophy Keen announced he would definitely be defending the championship next season.

Of his beaten rival Keen commented: "Philippe is a good player but I think he gave me a lot of free points, making mistakes in trying to hit some winners."

Keen, his wife Lisa and 19-month old daughter Chloe, are expecting an addition to the family on Christmas Eve.

Last season he caused a sensation at the Ilkley Open Championship. After battling unseeded through qualifying rounds he reached the quarter finals.

"I am hoping this time I won't have to play qualifying rounds," he said.

Keen aimed to use his tennis talents as a coach in Harrogate at The Academy, but the Home Office would not grant him a work permit for such a role. So instead he has a missionary visa as he bids to expand his church's Bible belt in the Bilton area and at an outpost on the Jennyfield estate.

However, it was not all plain sailing for the stylish American in the Harrogate event. In the final of the men's doubls Keen and his American partner Harry Worthington (Academy) went down 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to David Whitelaw amd Ross Leventhal (Academy) in the biggest upset on finals day.

Earlier Knaresborough's Sam Robinson caused a surprise when he knocked out former title holder David Whitelaw to claim a place in the semis against Keen.

Meanwhile mother of three Sophie Jacob won her fifth successive women's singles title after making an unspectacular start against rising 16-year-old Rebecca Sowden, a student at Harrogate Grammar School.

Jacob (Harlow) was jolted into changing her tactics after losing the first set to the Yorkshire under 16 junior, who plays at The Academy, Rawdon and Chapel Allerton. Sowden had upset the seedings by defeating

second favourite Kate Needham (Racquets) 6-1, 6-1.

But Jacob hit back to snuff out the spirited Sowden challenge win 2-6, 6-0, 6-0. The 35-year-old victor praised her young rival for capitalising on her below par start with some fine angled winners.

Jacob, whose three children are Jasper, four, Sally, six and Lisa seven, admitted she had played too many mid-court shots in the opening set, realising more penetrating play was needed to turn the match in her favour.

Sowden said she had been able to hit winners from her rival's half court shots and take the opening set thanks to some useful serving.

"But once she started hitting better lengths and serving better Sophie got her game together and played well," said Sowden of the one hour 20 minute clash.

Hopes that Jacob could take a hat-trick of titles were dashed in the mixed doubles final. Partnering Harlow club colleague Simon Daly she went down 6-4, 6-3 to Jonathan Smail and Kate Needham (Racquets).

Earlier Jacob and Nicola Pratt (Harlow) had beaten Yvonne Richards and Gillian Smail (Racquets) 6-2, 6-4.

Tournament referee Trevor Nuttall said the tournament, which came close to disbanding a few years ago, had attracted a healthy entry, one of the best for several seasons. And they hoped to build on that next season.

Asked if the tournament might consider playing at a central venue rather than having early round matches spread across a wide area Nuttall said that might be considered. The stumbling block was finding a single venue able to take all the matches in one week and one suitable for the players.

Harrogate Championships

(at Harrogate Racquets Club)

Results - Men's Singles - Semi Finals Doug Keen (The Academy) beat Sam Robinson (Knaresborough) 6-1, 6-1; Philippe Bourgeois (The Academy) beat Jonathan Smail (Racquets) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Final: Keen beat Bourgeois 6-0, 6-1.

Women's Singles - Semi Finals: Sophie Jacob (Harlow) beat Nicola Pratt (Harlow) 6-3, 6-2; Rebecca Sowden (The Academy) beat Kate Needham (Racquets) 6-1, 6-1.

Final: Jacob beat Sowden 2-6, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles Finals.

Men: David Whitelaw and Ross Leventhal (The Academy) beat Doug Keen and Harry Worthington (The Academy) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Women: Sophie Jacob and Nicola Pratt (Harlow) beat Yvonne Richards and Gillian Smail (Racquets) 6-2, 6-4.

Mixed: Jonathan Smail and Kate Needham (Racquets) beat Simon Daly and Sophie Jacob (Harlow) 6-4, 6-3.

Slazenger Harrogate and

District League

Results - Division Two: Wetherby 4 Thirsk A 5; Spa 5.5 West Tanfield 3.5.

Division Three: Harlow C 2.5 Dacre 6.5.

Division Four: Ripon 7.5 Ripon a 1.5; The Academy A 8 Wetherby A 1.

Division Five: Dacre B 1.5 Northallerton 7.5; Dacre B 4.5 Starbeck A 4.5.

Division Six: West Tanfield A 7 Burton Leonard 2; Northallerton A 7.5 Ripon B 1.5.

Barkston Ash League

Former champions Bardsey are top of Division One following their stunning 91 games to 17 victory over Thorner.

They lead title holders Whitkirk by 44 games, although both sides are on 20 points, each having played five matches.

Adrian Lobley, Sylvia Billington, Tawona Moyo, Dot Mackintosh Tim Dickinson and Hannah Shire secured the championship boosting victory for Bardsey.

Results - Division One: Bardsey 70, Barwick 38; Bardsey 91 Thorner 17; Barwick 40, Horsforth 68.

Division Two: Thorp Willoughby 66 Sherburn 42; Roundhay 80, Barwick B 28; Boston Spa 58 Barwick B 50; Cliffe 50 Castleford 58.

Division Three: Alwoodley 31 Copmanthorpe 77.

Women: York All Saints 68 Thorner 40.