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.
She went down to Mikaela Davies (Northern) 6-1, 6-1 after a marathon day on Tuesday. She had eliminated Southern team-mate Libby Scott in a very long struggle and had then combined with her to win the doubles title but there was to be no happy ending, as Oxnevad failed to get to grips with the big occasion.
Ironically, Oxnevad had beaten Davies 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 a mere six days earlier in another tournament, but it is a national title which holds more currency when bidding for a college scholarship.
Both Scott and Oxnevad had also beaten Davies earlier in 2010 but both have the consolation of another full season in junior ranks. Oxnevad misses having two seasons by only four days.
The boys title was won in a similarly convincing fashion by Anton Bettink, the top seed, who beat second seed Chris Simich 6-2, 6-0.
The action remains at Albany on the North Shore over the next few days with the New Zealand Open Residential Championships beginning today.
