Second-seeded Goran Bosalevski successfully defended his SCAA Men's Open Singles title last Sunday when he defeated No. 1 seed Michael Lai, 6-2, 7-5, in the title match, while in the Ladies' Open Singles final, former HK Fed Cup player, Sher Chun Wing, beat No. 3 seed Katherine Ip to capture her second career local major.

In the men's final, Michael was broken right off the bat, after which Goran held at love to consolidate the break of serve for a quick-fire, 2-0, lead. In the third game, Michael fended off five consecutive break points from 30-40 down, then wasted a game point of his own, before he was eventually broken again after the fifth deuce.

Although Goran threw down a couple of double faults in the ensuing game, a pair of aces along the way was enough to see him hold again for a 4-0 advantage.

Then, with a 40-15 lead, Michael wasted four successive game points before he finally held serve for the first time to get on board to trail, 4-1. Although he had break point on Goran's serve in the ensuing game, the No. 2 seed did not budge and went on to hold for 5-1.

After taking the score to 5-2, Michael's sub-par returns of serve on the day again proved costly, as the number two seed held easily for 6-2 to capture the all-important opening set.

The opening game of the second set was a dogged affair, as Michael first saved two break points when he trailed 15-40. After wasting a game point at deuce, he again fought off four straight break points before he finally held to take a slender 1-0 lead.

However, the advantage was short-lived, as the number two seed broke through again in the third game to go up, 3-1. Just when it seemed the No. 1 seed was down and out, Michael responded in kind by breaking Goran's serve for the first time in the match to lead 4-3.

Games then went with serve until the eleventh game when Michael fought off two break points from 15-40 down to force deuce. However, the No. 2 seed pounced again to conjure the crucial break. Although Goran wasted two match points at 40-0 in the ensuing game, he duly converted on his third attempt to lift his second consecutive SCAA Open men's singles title.

"I felt confident going into the match seeing that I had beaten him the previous 3 times we played but I didn't take him lightly of course. I thought Michael got off to a bad start, giving me too many free points. I think this may have been the case, as he didn't serve well pretty much throughout the whole match and it gave me confidence to attack," said the 2008 champion.

"Michael did pick his game up a bit to come back from 3-1 down but when it counted, at 5-5, he threw in a double fault to give me the vital break and I was able to close it out from there," he added.

Since 1974, three players were able to win back-to-back men's singles titles at the SCAA Open – Colin Grant (1992-93), Shane Barr (1996-97), and Andrew Town (2002-03). The formidable Tau Luu (1974-76) and Michael Walker (1989-91) were the only players to three-peat as men's open singles champion at the SCAA Open.

The Men's Open Doubles title went to second-seeded Sean Cooper and Jason Lijewski, as the Irish-Australian tandem beat top-seeded Michael Lai and Goran Bosalevski, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

One break of serve in each set turned out to be the difference, with the No. 2 seeds breaking Bosalevski's serve in the penultimate game to take the opener, 6-4. The top seeds then claimed the second set by breaking Lijewski in the fourth game to take it 6-3. In the final set, games went serve until the eighth game when the Bosalevski serve was broken again after which Cooper held to love to end the contest, 6-3.

The Ladies' Open Doubles went to the sister pairing of Sher Chun Wing and Sher Pui Wing after they defeated No. 2 seeds Wu Ho Ching and Katherine Ip in the final, 7-6(1), 6-2.

By wining both ladies' open singles and doubles titles simultaneously, Sher Chun Wing matched the feats previously registered by He Chun-Yan (2006), Jacklyn Fu (1999), Tong Ka Po (1998), Willy Chan (1990, 1993), Ellinore Lightbody (1986-89), Paulette Moreno (1982, 1985), Mrs. Ling Tsui Yuen Yuen (1981), Patricia Hy (1978-79), and Nancy Spelman (1976).

Seventeen-year-old Sher Chun Wing had previously represented the territory in Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II play in 2006. She also won the Ladies' Open Singles title at the HK Nationals that year when she beat frequent doubles partner, Geraldine Leong, in the final, 6-4, 7-5.

In 1978, the SCAA Open Tennis Championships was one of the first open tournaments in Hong Kong to offer prize money to competitors. Since 2007, the SCAA Open has featured as the opening major on the local tennis calendar, preceding the CRC Open, which takes place in November, and the Hong Kong National Tennis Championships in December.

Over the years, the SCAA Open has attracted the participation of overseas, as well as the territory's leading players of the day. Notable Men's Open Singles champions from the past include Tau Luu, Randall King, Kelvin Ng, Mark Bailey, Colin Grant, Michael Walker, Des Tyson, John Hui, Shane Barr, Melvin Tong, Michael Brown, and Wayne Wong, to name a few.

Noteworthy Ladies' Open Singles include, but not limited to, Patricia Hy, Mrs. Ling Tsui Yuen Yuen, Paulette Moreno, Ellinore Lightbody, Willy Chan, Jacklyn Fu, Kristin Godridge, Tang Min, Tong Ka Po, Lam Po Kuen, and Venise Chan.

SCAA Open – Roll of Honour (1974 - 2008)

Visit www.scaatennisopen.org for updated scores and fixture lists.

Results
SCAA Open Tennis Championships 2008
South China Athletic Association, King's Park
Sep-Oct, 2008

MEN'S OPEN SINGLES

First Round
(1)Michael Lai d. (LL)Brian Yeung 6-3 7-5
(q)Elberto Anasta d. Adrian Montesinos 6-3 6-1
Andres Battad d. (q)Martin Lee 6-3 6-1
(q)Kelvin Lam d. Jason Lijewski 7-6(7) 7-5
Keith Lo d. (3)Brian Hung 5-7 6-3 7-6(5)
Justin To d. Graeme Foster 6-3 7-6(5)
Coenie Van Wyk d. Ethan Farbman 6-4 6-2
(8)Jesus Lapore d. (q)Hui Wai Lok 7-6(2) 6-3
(6)Jason Sankey d. Monty Lo 6-1 6-0
Ross Elliott d. Ryan Ho 6-3 6-4
Lam Wing Lun d. (q)Kevin Wong 6-2 6-0
Sean Cooper d. (4)Dino Dell'Orto 6-2 6-3
(5)Tong Tat Fu d. (q)Wong Yik Ho 6-2 6-1
(q)Matt Seeberger d. Lui Shing Fung 6-2 6-7(5) 6-1
(q)Vincent Yau d. Andrew Lee 6-3 6-4
(2)Goran Bosalevski d. Shepherd Cheung 6-2 6-0

Second Round
(1)Michael Lai d. (q)Elberto Anasta 6-4 3-6 7-6(1)
(q)Kelvin Lam d. Andres Battad 6-2 6-2
Keith Lo d. Justin To 4-6 6-4 6-1
Coenie Van Wyk d. (8)Jesus Lapore 6-1 6-1
(6)Jason Sankey d. Ross Elliott 6-2 6-2
Sean Cooper d. Lam Wing Lun 6-1 6-3
(q)Matt Seeberger d. (5)Tong Tat Fu 6-3 6-1
(2)Goran Bosalevski d. (q)Vincent Yau 6-2 6-2

Quarterfinals
(1)Michael Lai d. (q)Kelvin Lam 6-3 6-3
Coenie Van Wyk d. Keith Lo 6-1 6-1
Sean Cooper d. (6)Jason Sankey 7-5 7-6
(2)Goran Bosalevski d. (q)Matt Seeberger 7-5 6-3

Semifinals
(1)Michael Lai d. Coenie Van Wyk 6-4 4-6 6-2
(2)Goran Bosalevski d. Sean Cooper 6-1 7-5

Final
(2)Goran Bosalevski d. (1)Michael Lai 6-2 7-5

LADIES' OPEN SINGLES

First Round
(1)Feng Yidi d. Wu Ho Ching 6-3 6-4
(q)Carina Chen d. (LL)Rachel Hui 4-6 6-4 6-1
(3)Katherine Ip d. (q)Lucy Tang 6-0 6-2
Lorraine Cheung d. Eudice Chong 5-7 6-4 6-1
Leung Lok Sze d. (LL)Naomi Rana 6-0 6-0
(4)Sher Pui Wing d. (q)Vivian Lin 6-1 6-0
Sher Chun Wing d. (q)Caryl Poon 6-0 6-0
(2)Ki Yan Tung d. Melda Tsang 6-1 6-0

Quarterfinals
(1)Feng Yidi d. (q)Carina Chen 6-1 6-2
(3)Katherine Ip d. Lorraine Cheung 6-0 6-3
(4)Sher Pui Wing d. Leung Lok Sze 6-1 6-1
Sher Chun Wing d. (2)Ki Yan Tung 6-4 6-1

Semifinals
(3)Katherine Ip d. (1)Feng Yidi 6-4 6-3
Sher Chun Wing d. (4)Sher Pui Wing 6-0 6-2

Final
Sher Chun Wing d. (3)Katherine Ip 6-0 6-0

MEN'S OPEN DOUBLES

First Round
(1)Michael Lai/Goran Bosalevski d. (LL)Ocean Ng/Lee Chi Hong 6-0 7-6(8)
Venant Shum/Derek Ling d. Nathan Booth/Christiaan Hart 6-2 6-4
(3)Jason Sankey/Graeme Foster d. (q)Lee Ho Hing/Chris Lai 6-3 6-3
Kelvin Lam/Lam Wing Lun d. Li Kang Wan/Monty Lo 6-1 6-3
Ross Elliott/Matthew Johnston d. (q)Vincent Yau/Brian Yeung 7-6(0) 6-1
(4)Andrew Lee/Tong Tat Fu d. (q)Shepherd Cheung/Lai Kwai Cheong 6-7(5) 6-1 [10-4]
Jack Hui/Ryan Ho d. Wayne Wong/Alex Mak 6-4 6-4
(2)Sean Cooper/Jason Lijewski d. Kevin Wong/Adrian Lam 6-2 6-2

Quarterfinals
(1)Michael Lai/Goran Bosalevski d. Venant Shum/Derek Ling 6-3 6-1
(3)Jason Sankey/Graeme Foster d. Kelvin Lam/Lam Wing Lun 6-2 7-6(2)
Ross Elliott/Matt Johnston d. (4)Andrew Lee/Tong Tat Fu 5-7 6-3 [11-9]
(2)Sean Cooper/Jason Lijewski d. Jack Hui/Ryan Ho 6-3 6-4

Semifinals
(1)Michael Lai/Goran Bosalevski d. (3)Jason Sankey/Graeme Foster 4-6 7-6(2) [10-7]
(2)Sean Cooper/Jason Lijewski d. Ross Elliott/Matt Johnston 6-4 -- Retired

Final
(2)Sean Cooper/Jason Lijewski d. (1)Michael Lai/Goran Bosalevski 6-4 3-6 6-3

LADIES' OPEN DOUBLES

First Round
(1)Feng Yidi/Yang Yi d. (q)Jennifer Tsui/Carina Ma 6-1 6-1
Sher Chun Wing/Sher Pui Wing d. (q)Rachel Hui/Lucy Tang 6-2 6-1
Lorraine Cheung/Anthea Look d. Vivian Lin/Carmen Lai 7-5 6-7(5) [10-4]
(2)Wu Ho Ching/Katherine Ip d. Melda Tsang/Yu Sze Wai 6-0 6-2

Semifinals
Sher Chun Wing/Sher Pui Wing d. (1)Feng Yidi/Yang Yi 6-4 6-0
(2)Wu Ho Ching/Katherine Ip d. Lorraine Cheung/Anthea Look 6-0 6-1

Final
Sher Chun Wing/Sher Pui Wing d. (2)Wu Ho Ching/Katherine Ip 7-6(1) 6-2