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News Menu Draws and Fixtures All the latest from the world of Rackets. News Archive Look through our past news items, going back a full four years: 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Ask Your Question If you've a specific question - ask the Rackets.co.uk Team. ............................................ Specialist Links Sponsorship We provide promotion & sponsorship opportunities to suitable companies. Site Terms Our complete terms of use.	World Champion's emphatic victory Although the 15/5,15/2,17/14,15/11 scoreline may belie the competitive nature of the play between Harry Foster and Mark Hubbard, with any number of thrilling rallies, once again, as in his straight games victory over Guy Smith-Bingham in the final of the Invitation singles, Harry showed the qualities that make him World Champion. Harry Foster John Prenn of sponsor Lacoste Foster reached the final with a 4 games to one victory over Tim Cockroft. He lost the first game 15/16 having held a game point at 2/0 in the set to 3 at which point he ballooned a forehand out of court. Cockroft then served 3 aces to take the game. Foster led throughout the second game albeit narrowly 6/3 then 8/6,11/9 and then 13/10 before taking the game 15/11. He dominated the third game taking a 9/1 lead in 3 hands and then 14/1 before winning it 15/2. The fourth game was nip and tuck with Tim just staying in front to 11/9 before Harry again showing great determination and his ability to win the important points reached 12/12 and then took the last 3 points for game. THe fanal game saw a rather dispirited Cockroft who certainly was getting the worst any good fortune going, allow Foster an 11/1 lead before fighting back to 7/11but that was his last hurrah. The other semi was a more muted affair with Mark Hubbard always in charge never allowing Alex Smith-Bingham enough loose shots to get into the match. Hubbard won15/9,15/9,15/7,15/9. Alex was not in the lead at any point in any of the games. The first game of the final which Harry won 15/5 saw both players hit top gear from the off and was a great example of fierce straight hitting by the World Champion, he was especially severe on any thing at all short of agood length particularly on his backhand [the left hand side] and well as Mark retrieved he was unable to stem the flood of winners from Fosters racket. Photos Dowling In the second game. Hubbard took an early 7/1 lead with some splendid retrieving, indeed the outstanding retrieving of both players was a feature throughout the match, many times what looked to be a certain winner being dug out of the corners not once during a rally but two or three times. Mark then increased his lead to 11/3 and at this point, to all the watchers in the gallery, Harry looked sure to lose the game. The World Champion had other ideas and having got back into serve he won 5 points in a row,serving 4 aces. Then although Mark got back to serve on five occasions, kept the Professional Champion pointless until he had overtaken him and reached 13/11 then 14/12 before taking the game with an ace. The third game was the closest of the match . This time Foster took an early 8/1 and then 10/6 lead before being overhauled in his turn by Hubbard who went to 11/10 in one hand, and then to 13/10 in his next service. Although Foster equalised to 12 all Hubbard reached game point but served a rather weak serve which Foster killed with a waspish forehand. Back in the box he won five points off the reel levelling the scores at 14/14 and then winning the set to 3 3/0 to take the game 17/14. Hubbard did not let the fact that he was down 3 games to love dismay him and led 3/1,8/5 and 10/8 in what was to be the last game .Harry stuck to his task however and gradually pegged Mark back, returning serve accurately and retrieving with his usual doggedness. He took a lead that he was not to lose, when he put Mark out at 8/10 down and then served 3 aces to take the lead 11/10. Although Mark got back in hand he was put out for no score and then went to 13/10 with another ace and a fierce forehand kill. Although Hubbard got back in hand twice more he was only able to add one more point before Foster took the 2 points he needed for the game and the Championship. Over the course of the match Harry served 25 aces to Hubbard's 13 but as much as the number it was the juncture of the match at which he served them that was equally important. Draw Other Links ....................................................................................................................................... Read About The History Of Rackets From its roots of a game played outside taverns, through to the modern game. About The Past Champions The past and present leading players of the game. Find Out The Latest Results In The World Of Rackets All the results, fixtures and draws for the UK game.