By Kim J. Harmon

Local fans have been accustomed to seeing Akash Lamba and Ritush Venugopal battle for the Newtown Open men’s singles championships. But while there was a new face opposite Lamba this year, the result remained the same.

Lamba continued his dominance of the local tennis circuits, capturing another Newtown Open men’s singles championship with a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Paul Fairchild last Sunday at the Dickinson Park courts.

Giovanna Devercelli, meanwhile, defeated Carol Lipnick 6-0, 6-0 to earn the women’s open singles championship.

The Newtown Open – one of the staple tournaments of the Newtown Tennis Association – began play last month. The semi-finals last Saturday were forced indoors, to the Beaver Brook Tennis Club, due to inclement weather but the finals were in the open air of Dickinson Park.

Lamba reached the finals with a win over Owen Robertson while Fairchild had to get past Anthony Ditullio and Bob Elliott to reach the finals. Devercelli defeated Averell Manes in the semis while Lipnick overcame Judy Toth.

Other results:

Men’s Open Singles Consolation – John Reisert defeats David Baylock 6-4, 6-2; Men’s Open Doubles – Carl Norbeck and Bill Weiss defeat Ryan Adamonis and Max Barry; Men’s 40 Singles – Bob Reby defeats Mariano Moran 6-1, 6-1; Men’s 40 Singles Consolation – David Baylock defeats John Hartford 6-1, 6-4; Men’s 40 Doubles – Bob Lapple and Al Turner defeat Ray Bucknam and Steve Cornell 6-3, 6-1; Men’s 55 Singles – Elmer Adams defeats Rod Taylor 7-6, 6-2; Men’s 55 Singles Consolation – Bob Delfay defeats Don Gonsalves 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Men’s 55 Doubles – Wayne McCormack and Ferd Starbuck defeat Keith Butterfield and Rod Taylor 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

Women’s Open Doubles – Margaret Lally and Anna Maher versus Nancy Giddings and Rosemary Little (postponed); Women’s 40 Singles – Meredith Dommu defeats Nancy Hamitlon 6-1, 7-6; Women’s 40 Doubles – Loretta Bohnen and Denise Dougiello defeat Carol Duggan and Mary Martinik 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Women’s 40 Doubles Consolation – Peggy Mehai and Carol Lee Hart defeat Nancy Bento and Megan Will 6-2, 6-4.

Mixed Doubles – Carl Bailey and Giovanna Devercelli defeat Kathryn Miles and Randy Saadeh 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Mixed Doubles Consolation – Corky Clark and Susan Clark defeat Johnny Dye and Brenda Dye 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.