Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee and Romania’s Irina Fetecau with their Women’s Doubles Winners trophy for winning the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
In the first ACT International clay court tournament held from 19 March, we saw players from Japan, Great Britain, Austria, France, Romania and Slovenia battle it out against the Australians. On that occasion, it was Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic who took the title against Destanee Aiava. Jakupovic also took out the doubles title, teaming up with Australia’s Priscilla Hon.
With Jakupovic and Hon not backing up for the #2 tournament, the doubles title was up for grabs.
When it came to the doubles final we found a combination that included an Austrian and Japanese player against an Australian and a Romanian. The players were Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee with Romania’s Irina Fetecau against Pia Konig from Austria and Michika Ozeki from Japan. Fetecau and Mcphee only teamed up at the last moment, and they were taking on the no. 4 seeds.
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee and Romania’s Irina Fetecau hug to celebrate after their Women’s Doubles title victory at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against Pia Konig (l) from Austria and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
What makes a tennis tournament in Canberra unique is that there are often members of the diplomatic community coming to the tennis to support their players. At the last men’s tournament, the German Ambassador watched Florian Mayer and before that the Israeli Ambassador watched Dudi Sela claim a victory in Canberra.
With Fetecau, we saw the Romanian Ambassador to Australia Her Excellency Mrs Nineta Bărbulescu and a vocal Romanian support group cheer on their countrywoman. That support helped. Fetecau and Mcphee claimed their first 25k level title, winning the ACT Clay Court International #2 6-1, 4-6, (10-5).
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Romania’s Irina Fetecau and Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee with the Romanian Ambassador to Australia Her Excellency Mrs Nineta Bărbulescu. Mcphee and Fetecau won the Women’s Doubles Winners at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
After the match, the Ambassador made a special point to not only congratulate Fetecau, but she also said thank you to Mcphee and asked where is she from. On finding out that Mcphee is from Brisbane, the Ambassador said she would arrange something with the Romanian community in Brisbane. The players also shared their victory with the Romanian fans and signed tennis balls and posed for photos with the group.
But not only that, they took the time to have the Romanian flag flying in the background of the photos. And not to leave Kaylah Mcphee out of the celebrations, they all lined up with an Australian flag in the background.
In Fetecau’s victory speech, she mentioned that there would be some tears as she left Canberra as she had enjoyed the past two weeks.
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Michika Ozeki from Japan hits a volley in the final against Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee and Romania’s Irina Fetecau Women’s Doubles at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Romania’s Irina Fetecau at the net as Kaylah Mcphee serves in the Women’s Doubles final at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against Austria’s Pia Konig and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Romania’s Irina Fetecau hits a backhand in the Women’s Doubles final at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against Austria’s Pia Konig and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Michika Ozeki from Japan hits a backhand as her partner Pia Konig from Austria looks on in the final against Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee and Romania’s Irina Fetecau Women’s Doubles at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee hits a forehand in the Women’s Doubles final at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against Pia Konig from Austria and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee celebrates a point with Romanian partner Irina Fetecau in the Women’s Doubles at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against Pia Konig from Austria and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee volleys in the final. Mcphee played with Romanian partner Irina Fetecau in the Women’s Doubles at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against Pia Konig from Austria and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Pia Konig from Austria hitting a forehand in the final, she played with Michika Ozeki from Japan against Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee and Romanian Irina Fetecau in the Women’s Doubles at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against . (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Canberra, Australia – 30 March: Australia’s Kaylah Mcphee at the net as her Romanian partner Irina Fetecau is hitting in the Women’s Doubles at the ACT Clay Court International in Canberra against Pia Konig from Austria and Michika Ozeki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media) #ACTClayIntl #protour
Visit the Keating Media photos site to see more photos from the ACT Clay Court International #2 tennis, which were taken on 30 March 2018
