On Saturday, 23rd of November, at Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre in Preston Maria had a fantastic tournament ending up with three medals. A runner up title at the mixed doubles (partnering Igor Morais) was followed by the titles for the singles and girls doubles (partnering Tin Tin Ho).
This is how ETTA reports on these titles
Junior Girls Singles
Maria Tsaptsinos won her maiden National Junior Girls’ Singles title after stunning top seed Tin-Tin Ho in a brilliant encounter between the old rivals at the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, UCLAN, Preston.
The international duo were strong favourites for the title and ensured themselves of another key head-to-head when they emerged from their respective knockout matches without dropping an end. Tsaptsinos defeating Stephanie Cross and Emily Bolton in straight games before Emma Torkington withdrew during their semi-final while Tin-Tin wasted no time in beating Bethany Farnworth, Letitia McMullan and Lois Peake.
That gave the pair their long-awaited match-off, something that was missed at the Sainsbury’s School Games in September when Tin-Tin’s shock defeat to Yuki Wat meant that Tsaptsinos faced the Sussex-based youngster rather than the current junior no. 1.
The final started in the fashion that all of the audience expected with an intensive battle for the early lead in the first game. The second seed started positively and established a 9-5 break, but Tin-Tin managed to earn four consecutive points to level at 9-9. The energetic Tsaptsinos then created the first game point of the set but it wasn’t until she had both spurned two and saved two game points that she finally took a 1-0 lead with a 15-13 game.
That could’ve given the Berkshire teenager the early impetus in this important meeting but, with an dominant show of power, the top seed levelled in style. An 8-1 lead in the second game quickly became an 11-4 set as Tin-Tin didn’t allow Tsaptsinos any time to settle.
It looked as though the tide had turned early in the third end but crucially, at 7-6 down, Tsaptsinos delivered her most decisive move by showing she was up to the battle. She won four straight points to lead 10-7, slipping briefly to 10-10, but importantly holding on to secure a 2-1 lead with a 12-10 game.
The reigning Sainsbury’s School Games Champion then dominated the fourth game, something she has not done against her great rival in a long time, to cruise home 11-4 and seal a memorable achievement at the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre.
Individual Results
At group stage Maria faced Rhiannan Evans (11-5 11-5 11-7) and Grace Potter (11-1 11-3 11-7) and she qualified in her group. One of the girls in the group (Lauren Evans) scratched. For the first round Stephanie Cross provided the next challenge but Maria had another 3-0 win (11-5 11-4 11-5), then she faced Emily Bolton for one of the more demanding games but once again Maria did not drop a set to come out a winner with 3-0 (12-10 11-8 11-9). Emma Torkington was the player Maria was to compete against for the quarter finals, and unfortunately for Emma after Maria took the first set 11-3, Emma had to pull out due to back problems. At the final, Tin Tin Ho was beaten 3-1 (15-13 4-11 12-10 11-6)
Junior Girls Doubles
Lois Peake and Letitia McMullan nearly pulled off the shock of the weekend in the Junior Girls Doubles when they led hot favourites Tin-Tin Ho and Maria Tsaptsinos 2-0 before the Junior Girls Singles finalists recovered to retain their title from 2012.
Apart from their battle in the final, Tin-Tin and Tsaptsinos had remained relatively unchallenged on their merry route to another domestic gong. In sweeping aside Amy Blagbrough/Christelle Brook, Ella Patel/Kayleigh Forster and Emily Bolton/Amy Humphreys they barely broke a sweat, sealing each match in double quick time with successive 3-0 wins.
However, the massive underdogs, who had actually received two walkovers in their campaign, were the first to provide the favourites with a serious test when they took a surprise 2-0 (11-9, 11-3) lead in the gold medal match. Unfortunately for the duo, they were unable to maintain their form as Tin-Tin and Tsaptsinos found their game and cruised home in the final three games, dropping just 14 points in the process.
Junior Mixed Doubles
Defending champions Tin-Tin Ho and Helshan Weerasinghe came up against the only team to test them in the finals, last year’s runner-up Igor Morais, who breezed through his quarter and semi-finals with new partner, Maria Tsaptsinos.
Having cleared the path to the finals with a win in the semi-finals against Lois Peake and Jack Bennett 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11,1) it seemed like there would be no-one to challenge the top seeds in their attempts to retain the title.
Morais and Tsaptsinos experienced a tougher route to the semi-finals but looked in dominant form after taking apart Jack Dempsey and Emily Bolton in the quarter-finals 3-0 (11-5, 11-7 , 11-3).
During their semi-final match against Luke Savill and Leititia McMullan, Maria took a nasty fall on her knee, attempting a ‘hail-mary’ dive for a wide forehand, with close at one set all and 12-10 to Savill and McMullan anything could happen.
Following Maria’s fall she showed tremendous perseverance and stamina and played some excellent points to level the score at two apiece, in the final set all looked level with both teams leaving everything on the table, but, after a fantastic performance and tight run game Igor and Maria sealed in the win with a five end victory over Savill and McMullan 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 13-11)
In the final showdown defending champions Tin-Tin and Helshan faced second seeds Igor Morais and Maria Tsaptsinos in the last chance for anyone to break the cool composure of the champions and challenge them for the title.
Taking a convincing lead (7-1) in the first set it looked as though it would be a one-sided encounter, however, the underdogs managed to close the final score in the first set to 11-5.
Igor and Maria took a lead in the second set going 6-0 up but at the score of 10-10 the pressure built up sufficiently and a series of action-packed rallies took the top seeds to their second set win 12-10.
The third set remained close going to 7-7 after daring rallies that took both partners away from the court at all angles, however, the defending champions wouldn’t be denied, taking the third set 11-7 to complete the job and retain their mixed doubles crown.
Individual Results
vs Joe Pilkington/Amy Hutchings 11-5 11-4 12-10
vs Jack Dempsey/Emily Bolton 11-5 11-7 11-3
vs Luke Savil/Lettitia McMullan 11-6 9-11 11-13 11-9 13-11
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