The draw may have been smaller than normal, but the action was as intense as ever.

Bob Elliott (#1) defeated Al Turner (#2) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) to capture the men’s singles championship at the annual Newtown Open Tennis Tournament last weekend at Dickinson Park. Unfortunately, there was no women’s draw this year.

Elliott defeated Fabello Anello (retired) in the first round and eased past Mariano Moran (6-1, 6-0) in the second round to reach the finals. Turner defeated Dave Chapdelaine (default) and eased past Frank Seyer (6-0, 6-0) to reach the final.

In men’s open doubles, the top seeded duo of Elliott and Owen Robertson were stopped in the finals by No. 2 seed Chip McKee and Tim Rives 6-4, 6-4. Both duos had earned first-round byes and secured semi-final wins (over Brad Harrington/Shawn Stillman and Mike Grasso/John Reisert, respectively) to reach the finals.

In men’s 40 singles, the largest draw of the tournament, No. 2 seed Marc Swanson defeated No. 1 seed Anthony Ditullio 6-4, 6-4 for the title. Swanson had survived a 6-3, 5-7, forfeit win over McKee in the semi-finals as Ditullio defeated Anello 6-4, retired.

In men’s 40 doubles, the No. 2 seeded duo of Moran/Inouye defeated unseeded Carl Bailey and Bo Beatty 6-2, 6-3. The Bailey/Beatty tandem had overcome top-seeded Greg Anderson and Marc Swanson 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-finals.

In men’s 55 singles, top seeded Elmer Adams defeated No. 2 seed Rod Taylor 6-3, 6-4.

In men’s 55 doubles, the top seeded duo of Rod Taylor and Keith Butterfield defeated undeeded Peter Hersel and Philip Manger 6-3, 6-4 to earn the trophy.

In a small women’s open doubles draw, Lillian Hope and Suzy Tuthill defeated the top-seeded duo of Polly Edwards and Trudy Meyer 6-4, 3-6, 10-7. Edwards and Meyer reached the final by surviving a grueling 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 win over RHonda Palmero and Norma Zwart.

In women’s 40 doubles, the top-seeded duo of Maureen Maher and Dawn Nacewicz defeated Jane FIno and Jean Wilson 6-4, 6-4. Maher and Nacewicz had to tough out a 7-6, 6-4 win over Maureen DelVicario and Janet von Kannewurff in the semi-finals while Fino and Wilson eased through a 6-2, 6-3 win over Maria Ortner and Annie Sackerson to reach the finals.

And in mixed doubles, top seeded Al and Debby Turner defeated Bill Simon and Suzy Tuthill 6-1, 6-0 to capture the title. The Turners had earned a 6-0, 6-3 win over Loretta Bohmen and David Rodriguez in the semi-finals while Simon and Tuthill defeated the No. 2 seeds, Dave Chapdelaine and Carol Lipnick.

More Action To Come

The Newtown Tennis Association also sponsors the Bertram A. Stroock Memorial Tennis Tournament (which concludes on Labor Day weekend) and the Arthur T. Berlingo Summer Challenge.

The Arthur T. Berlingo Summer Challenge is a summer-long tennis league that gives area players the opportunity to have regularly scheduled matches in a friendly, competitive environment.

Match play begins the week of June 24 and concludes August 27.

There will be nine divisions to choose from, including Women’s Advanced Singles, Women’s Intermediate Singles, Men’s Advanced Singles, Men’s Intermediate Singles, Men’s 55 and Over Singles, Women’s Advanced Doubles, Women’s Intermediate Doubles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.

In order to play, you must be an NTA member. Visit www.ntaweb.com for registration information and Summer Challenge guidelines.