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                  Jonathan Larken                           John Prenn                          Harry Foster

 

Beware the Injured Sportsman

 

World Champion Harry Foster retained his Lacoste Amateur Singles title at Queen's Club, defeating Jonathan Larken by three games to one, 15/7,15/10,8/15,15/7.

Larken beat James Coyne in four games in the semi finals, although Coyne had an opportunity to level their match in the fourth game holding 8 game points, before losing that game and the match 17/16. Foster reached the final by beating Alex Titchener-Barrett in his semi in straight games, 15/13,18/17,15/7.

 

Jonathan won the spin but Harry allowed him only 1 point before winning serve and immediately serving an ace. Throughout the match Harry served the better,25 aces to Jonathans 15, and once again was noticeably good at serving an ace at critical moments. He was never behind in the first game leading 5/2 8/2,9/6,12/6 then taking the game 15/7. At 3/8 ahead he aggravated an already weak knee avoiding a Larken drive and for a moment it seemed as if he would have to stop. Despite the knee causing him pain throughout the match his play was only adversely affected from time to time.

 

The second game provided the best rackets of the match both players serving and returning well and producing rallies full of high quality rackets. Larken's style of play, hitting the ball hard straight and low whenever he had the chance, brought out the best in the defending Champion. Foster, when given the chance to kill, did so  more effectively than Larken, who made  unforced errors on straightforward chances to kill the ball all through the game. This could have been due to frustration as many times Harry, as always, got back seeming winners with interest.

 

The third game showed Jonathan at his most consistent serving to a length, killing the ball clinically when the chance arose, he lead 5/2 and then 12/6 before finishing the game with two aces from 13/8. This reverse seemed to have the effect of waking Harry, as having won serve at 0/1, he served four straight aces and won four more points to take an 8/1 lead. In this game Harry won 10 points with service aces. He went further ahead in his next hand at 13/2. Jonathan then staged a mini fight back, reaching 7/13. The final point he won produced the best rally of the match,15 strokes long, both players making some unbelievable gets. It proved to be his last effort as Harry, back in, finished off the game and the match taking the two points he needed to win.

Draw

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