AFTER narrowly missing out on the doubles crown, Dayne Kelly left with the singles trophy after a straight sets triumph at the Wollongong International on Sunday.
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Kelly had played the support role in former tour professional Ashley Fisher’s comeback.
The pair made the doubles final on Friday, beaten in a gripping super tie-break against No 1 seeds Marc Polmans and Steven De Waard.
However, Kelly, the eighth seed in this week’s singles event, bounced back with a stunning 7-6, 6-3 victory over Maverick Banes in 92 minutes.
The tone was set in the first set tie-break, when Kelly marched to a 7-1 success.
Kelly then broke Banes to move 3-1 ahead in the second set, before powering to victory. Banes still leaves Wollongong with a trophy, after claiming the first of two Australian Futures doubles tournaments held at Beaton Park. Banes and New Zealander Finny Tearney beat De Waard and Polmans in a super tie-break.
De Waard and Polmans then made amends in week two, fighting off Kelly and Fisher’s comeback to win 6-2, 4-6, 10-7.
Undeterred, Kelly marched through the second singles tournament without dropping a set.
Kelly overpowered Czech Republic second seed Robin Stanek in the semi-finals 6-2, 7-6. It comes after former Wimbledon junior finalist Ben Mitchell won the first week’s tournament, also without losing a set.
WOLLONGONG
INTERNATIONAL
Singles final, Sunday
8-Dayne Kelly d 5-Maverick Banes 7-6 (7-1), 6-3