Dennis Radford

Doubles proved decisive in two close men's semifinals in Dunedin club tennis on Saturday.

The Eastern Harbour men sent out a warning as finals approach when they battled to a 5-1 win over Mornington-Roslyn Black in Dunedin club tennis on Saturday.

Top seeds Vaughan Kingi and Libby Scott claimed the Otago Open titles this weekend with clear cut wins in the finals.

There will be a strong Canterbury influence in the Otago Open which begins tonight, with the top five seeds in the men coming from that province.

Balmacewen men showed their depth, despite the absence of leading players Conrad Wong and Andrew Hilliard, when they beat Mornington-Roslyn Blue on the countback of sets in Dunedin club tennis on Saturday.

Queenstown's Louise Oxnevad was never in the match when she lost the final of the national junior 18 and under tennis championships in Albany yesterday.

Queenstown's Louise Oxnevad yesterday beat Libby Scott (Dunedin) to claim a place in today's final of the national girls 18 and under championships in Albany.

Tennis Southern is guaranteed a place in the final of the national 18 and under girls singles after Louise Oxnevad and Libby Scott both made it to the semifinals at Albany yesterday.

Balmacewen extended its lead in the Dunedin men's competition with a 5-1 win over nearest rival Eastern Harbour on Saturday.

Balmacewen men put a stamp on their favouritism in Dunedin club tennis with a 6-0 win on Saturday, while nearest rival Eastern Harbour lost 2-4.

Many leading names are missing from the Otago tennis team which heads to Queenstown today for the first round of the southern tennis league.

The feature tie in Dunedin men's club tennis saw unbeaten Balmacewen edge out the other unbeaten team, Eastern Harbour, in a final tie-break which went down to the last few points on Saturday.

Tauranga student Campbell Higgins showed he will be a valuable addition to the Otago team when he led Eastern Harbour to a 5-1 win over Mornington-Roslyn Black in Dunedin club tennis on Saturday.

Southland No 1 Oliver Cuthill had to battle hard to overcome Shaun Paringitai in the feature singles match in Dunedin premier club tennis on Saturday.

Losses outnumber gains in the Dunedin premier club competition which returns to Saturday afternoons starting today.

Otago's Libby Scott has been named in the New Zealand junior team to play in the Oceania championships in Noumea.

Dunedin schoolgirl Georgia Hume (14) came close to causing a major upset in the national 14-and-under indoor tennis championship which concluded in Dunedin yesterday.