Fahey goes back-to-back at championships

ENGLISH real tennis ace Claire Fahey has blown away the competition at last week’s Ladies World Championships held at the Ballarat Tennis Club in Canadian.

The win means Fahey is now a two-time world champion, having captured the biennial crown in 2016.

“It’s been a good week,” she said. “The way they did the draw, and it’s sensible, it’s like a big back draw and everyone comes through rounds, so I’ve had to wait three of four days to get started while watching the other girls play. Which is good and bad because you’re itching to get out there and watching everyone learn the court.”

Fahey defeated fellow Brit Izzy Candy 6-0, 6-0.

With the next world championships set for France in 2021, Fahey was honest about her chances capturing the title three times in a row.

“Anything can happen in two years,” she said. “There’s injury, I’ve got a couple of kids, it’s factoring everything in and at the end of the day it’s one tennis match, it’s a knock out.

“Sport is a funny thing and if it’s a bad day you haven’t got any chances to do over.”

The singles title was one of two pieces of silverware Fahey picked up on Saturday, also winning the doubles world title with partner Tara Lumley defeating Penny Lumley and Kate Leening 6-0, 6-2.

Ballarat Tennis Club president Anne Strange said the championship matches capped a strong week of real tennis.

“It’s been a great success,” she said. “Seven days of great tennis culminating in today’s finals.

“We’ve had really good representation of players from Australia, all clubs have been represented and a lot of ladies have some out from England. The quality of play has been exceptional, especially when you have the defending champions. That also brings everyone else up to a higher level.”

Fahey also praised the club and the city.

“It’s been amazing,” she said. “We’ve had week here, you’ve put on the most ridiculous weather.

“The club is amazing, the whole weeks been fantastic. We had a civic function at the beginning and we’ve just been exploring the city, had the kids at the water park, it’s just been so easy and so nice.”