British underdog wins major Open title...

Alex Titchener-Barrett wins Lacoste Singles Rackets

The Lacoste British Open Singles Rackets Championship Final got off to a slow start on Sunday 31 January because half of the spectators were watching Britain's perhaps more famous underdog struggle through a prolonged, and ultimately unsuccessful, tie-break against Roger Federer. But when the rackets match finally burst into life at 11.15 it lasted a lot longer than Mr Murray's, second seed Alex T-B finally defeating World Champion Jamie Stout after 3 hours on court.  The score line says it all. This match was already looking like it would run for the full seven games even before it was affected by injury in the sixth:

9/15, 15/10, 12/15, 15/12, 5/15, 15/13, 15/7

This was the 30th Open Final sponsored by Lacoste, and although John Prenn was there to watch the first two games he had to dash off to Harrow to play in a fathers and sons match, leaving the trophy to be presented to a full gallery on Lacoste's behalf by David Norman.

The match ebbed and flowed throughout, with neither player ever looking dominant for any prolonged period. Even after Jamie suffered cramp in the sixth game and had to spend some time off court he still went 6-3 up in the last game before Alex ran him out of steam and took the title. Throughout the match, and particularly in the last 3 games, referee Guy Smith-Bingham and marker Andrew Lyons were tested to the full, with at times almost a debate being called for from the floor of the court. Guy did a tremendous job fielding these requests, for which he was thanked by both players after the heat of battle subsided, and all-in-all it was a good natured if hard fought day.

As well as holding the British Open Doubles title with Tim Cockroft, Alex now holds the UK and US Open titles, both against Jamie Stout who withdrew during the US Open final due to injury. The possibility that these matches can run on for 3 hours or more is a test of more than just skill, the word most frequently heard is of course 'gladiatorial'. I'm delighted to report that 'after the blood was spilt the swords were sheathed', and after entertaining the crowd for 3 tough hours the victor and the vanquished went off to the bar together - for a glass of salted water, no doubt!