Brightwell Tennis Club Finals Day 2026
On a warm, but drizzly, September afternoon the top two men’s singles players, Luca Cimino and Ryan Housley, both twenty years old and club and university teammates, battled it out in a close final of extraordinary rallies and plenty of determination and guts. Housley took an early advantage winning the first set 6-2, with gritty and consistent tennis, but last year’s winner, Cimino, came roaring back to take the second set 6-2, and then the deciding championship tiebreak, 10-5, to regain his title in a match that gave those watching plenty of drama and quality tennis.
The two resumed their battle straight afterwards in the men’s doubles final, which was just as exciting and lasted two and a half hours. Housley, and his partner Steve Broomhall, took the first set 7-6, but Cimino, who was paired with Tom Else, fought back to take the second, 7-5. Housley and Broomhall won the championship tiebreak 10-8, having been 6-8 down and take their first Brightwell title.
At the same time, the ladies were also playing a closely fought final. Becca Pheasey and Claire Horsnell took the first set 6-4, but holders Cat McKeracher and Caroline Weaver took the second 6-4. In a nail-biting championship tiebreak, Claire and Becca went 9-6 up, but Cat and Caroline pegged them back and eventually won 11-9.
Luca Cimino then found some extra energy to partner Cat McKeracher and reclaim their mixed doubles title, defeating Tom Else and Jasmine Morad 6-3, 6-4.
The U17 boys’ singles title was won by Isaac Matthews, with the runner-up Alex Petronio. The U11 boys’ singles winner was Adrian Gourmelen, who beat Jack Aldridge 4-2, 4-2, and the U9s was won by Ryan Archie Soren Hamid, who defeated William Baines.
The girls’ singles was won by Jemima Gudgin, who retained her title beating Ella Aldridge 4-2, 3-4, 10-6, in another closely fought three-setter.
Club chairman Paul Adlam said, ‘I think this is the best finals day ever; not only the quality of the tennis, but there was a real feeling of unity and shared purpose amongst those playing and watching.’
Brightwell Tennis Club welcomes all ages and abilities with a mixture of social tennis, coaching and matches; info@brightwelltennis.co.uk.
t