Batt likely to provide strong challenge for Otago’s best

The Otago Open titles will be decided this weekend and it is hard to pick the winners.

With 60 players entered, it is disappointing  only eight women have entered singles while others have opted for doubles or mixed doubles only.

The event has attracted several strong provincial-level players and pre-qualifying for the men has reduced the field to 16 in the main draw to begin this morning.

Play has been moved to the Edgar Centre while the Logan Park courts await redevelopment, and the familiarity with the conditions could favour local players.

Top seeding in the men has gone to Cantabrian Edward Batt. He has had some good results in the tough Christchurch competition and at national junior level so should provide a stern challenge for Otago’s best.

A recent 6-4 third set loss to a former American college graduate in Hayden Joblin hints at Batt’s talent and potential.

Second seeding has gone to Mitchell Sizemore, who is two years older and has a power game capable of anything on his best day. Sizemore won the title two years ago but was beaten in the semifinals last year.

Third seed Ryan Eggers has had a struggle with shoulder injuries but has compensated for lack of power with clever variations. He lost to Sizemore in the North Otago final on grass last weekend.

Fourth seed Thomas Hartono, of Queenstown, was runner-up in the Otago Indoor Open at the beginning of the season and has proved to be at least the equal of Otago’s best.

The main unseeded chances are Carlos Reid, who could meet Eggers in the second round, and Nelson student Henry Neas, who outlasted Reid in a long club match last weekend. Neas has a tough first round against Sizemore.

Other contenders include Aucklander Patrick Girard and Queenstown’s Tristan Henniges while local junior Ayoub Ahmad (15) is talented enough to progress.

Top seeding in the doubles goes to Sizemore and Reid, who were finalists last year.  Eggers and Ahmad are ranked second, although they are likely to meet Thomas and Peter Hartono in the semifinals. Hartono is now studying in Dunedin but has entered doubles only.

Mackenzie Phillips, a member of the Southern 16s team at nationals, holds the top seeding in the women’s field  but Rileigh Fields, who turned 19 yesterday, could repeat her success of two years ago to celebrate her milestone.

Little is known of new students Anastasia Kazakina, Grace Hoskins (Nelson) and Grace Mairs (Auckland). All have few recent results but their former rankings suggest they should at least add interest. Otago’s Ilana Goossens is also capable of an upset.

The return of former junior national titleholder Gabrielle Grady adds interest to the doubles and mixed doubles. She pairs with Phillips and has top seeding in the women’s event, while partnering her uncle professional coach Steve Dries, in the mixed.

Zoe Berryman, a Canterbury student, and Jessie Stevenson are dangers in the top half of the doubles and second seeds Fields and Eliza Booth look the best in the bottom half.

Finals are scheduled from 10.30am tomorrow with doubles first then women’s singles followed by men’s singles.

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