In an ever-changing world, there are always some certainties in life – like the sun will rise in east and set in the west, oil prices will rise in the winter and fall in the spring, and Bob Elliott will win the Bertram Stroock Memorial Tennis Tournament.

Elliott made it three Men’s Singles championships in a row last weekend when he defeated Bob Gabor 6-0, 6-1. Elliott won his first tournament – sponsored by the Newtown Tennis Association – in 1995 and has won in 1997, 1999, 2000 and now 2001.

Only Justin McCarthy and Eric Putnam have won Men’s Singles titles since 1995, when Elliott came on the scene.

Elliott entered the tournament with the No. 1 seed and had to defeat Tim Hanley right off the bat to reach the semi-finals on Saturday. A win over Curt Logan earned him a spot in the finals against Gabor, who defeated Gerry Campbell and Bill Meier to reach the finals.

Elliott later teamed with his wife, Lauren, to defeat Curt Logan and his wife, Stephanie, 6-2, 6-2 for the Mixed Doubles championship.

On the other side of the Dickinson Park courts, Diane Collins claimed the Women’s Singles championship with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Stella Gabor. It was not a particularly easy run for Collins, who had to defeat two past champions – Allison Healey and No. 1 seed Diane Gucciardo – to reach the finals. Gabor earned a bye into the semi-finals and then defeated Elizabeth Young to earn a spot in the finals.

In other action, Logan and Michael Lynch defeated Gabor and Dom Nocturne 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 to grab the Men’s Doubles title. Carrie Mauro and Maura Fletcher slipped past Collins and Dawn Naciewicz 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to capture the Women’s Doubles title.

In Men’s 55 Singles, Gene Bernard defeated Fred Steiner 6-3, 6-3. And in the Men’s Singles Consolation round, Tim Hanley defeated Hugh Lavery.

The Victor Coopersmith Junior Tennis Tournament also was decided last weekend in four divisions. Kristen Malloy defeated Laetitia de Brantes 6-0, 6-0 to capture the Girls’ 10-and-under title; Jamie Vavrek defeated Joey Cappliello 6-3, 6-2 to capture the Boys’ 10-and-under title; Chris Martin defeated Ben Striano 6-1, 6-1 to win the Boys’ 14-and-under title; and Jill Logan defeated Jenna Moser 6-3, 6-3 to win the Girls’ 14-and-under title.