Sarah Cousins won the Ladies A Singles title at the City of Derry Tennis Championships where she competed with players from across Northern Ireland RMGFH02
The County Derry tennis championships held at Limavady tennis club enjoyed one of the largest entries in recent years with competitors travelling from all over the province to compete.
Last year’s singles champions, Sarah Cousins and Matthew McGann of the Enniskillen tennis club were back this year to defend their titles.
Sarah, just 15-years-old has had some success this summer playing in the very competitive Dublin junior tournament circuit. She had recently made the final of the Leopardstown junior open and she was hoping to build on the form she displayed there.
Sarah’s semi-final was against Lauren Stead who plays for Queen’s University. Sarah won the match 6/2 6/3 and this set up a final against Eva Lennox from ATT in Ballymena. Right from the start Cousins was in great form. She hit a string of forehand winners and serves that Lennox struggled to return. Sarah raced away to a 4/2 lead but Eva showed great resolve and fought back by breaking Sarah’s serve in the next game. This didn’t faze Cousins and she went on to win the set 6/4.
In the second set the Fermanagh player moved up a gear and played an almost flawless second set. Despite Lennox’s best efforts Cousins remained in complete control and won the second set 6/0 and with it the ladies singles title.
In the mixed doubles Sarah partnered her coach Matthew and the pair faced Eva Lennox and her partner Peter Fryer in the final. The Enniskillen pair got off to a great start by breaking the big serving Fryer.
Sarah comfortably won her serve and the scene was set for another dynamic performance.
“I was amazed at how hard and accurately she was hitting the ball and just so glad she was on the same side of the court as me,” said McGann.
Cousins and McGann went on to win in straight sets 6/2 6/4.
Two years ago, Sarah made history by being the youngest player to ever win the senior trophy at this event. She is now delighted to both complete a treble of County Derry singles titles wins and to have added the mixed doubles title trophy to her collection.
