Defending champions make flying start

Chris Doran and Karina Le Fevre opened the defence of their overall Grand Prix series titles in the best possible way by claiming the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the season-opening Liverpool Grand Prix.

Men’s Singles

Chris Doran was largely untroubled as he picked up where he left off last season with victory in the Men’s Singles.

The Northamptonshire player lost only two games in the event, one of the them in the final where he beat third seed Ismaila Akindiya 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 15-13).

Akindiya had ended a good run by Ireland’s Ashley Robinson, the 12th seed, in the semi-finals, while Doran overcame Victor Shi, ranked No 7.

Women’s Singles

Karina Le Fevre made hard work of it but got her own overall series defence off to a good start with a 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-8) win over Gauri Duhan.

The England international had lost her opening group match 3-2 (11-2, 9-11, 6-11, 11-4, 3-11) to Beth Richards of Wales, but victories over Jamie-Lee Harley and Jennie Yang saw her through in second place.

She was further inconvenienced in the knockout stages, first coming from 2-0 down to defeat Rebecca Matthes of Scotland 3-2 (9-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9) and then 2-1 down to young Welsh star Anna Hursey, prevailing 3-2 (9-11, 11-2, 11-13, 11-6, 11-6). Her semi-final was a relatively calmer 3-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-5) win over Rebecca Plaistow.

Duhan had also come through two five-game matches in the earlier rounds, sinking Richards 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 4-11, 11-5) and then, in a thrilling semi-final, Megan Phillips 11-6, 5-11, 14-12, 13-15, 14-12.

U21 Men’s

It was five sets all the way in the semi-finals and final. James Hobson, having overcome Dylan Curry in a topsy-turvy clash in the last four (5-11, 11-5, 11-1, 9-11, 11-9) then defeated Ethan Walsh in the final.

He needed to withstand a determined fightback to prevail 3-2 (11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9), Walsh having earlier also dug deep to see off Gabriel Achampong in the semis by a 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9) margin.

U21 Women’s

Anna Hursey took the top prize thanks to a 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6) victory over Bethany Farnworth. Earlier, Farnworth needed five to overcome Mari Baldwin (13-11, 12-14, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7) in a prolonged quarter-final.