Helensburgh Tennis Club held its opening match of the 2023 season at the weekend, taking on Strathgryffe in the first round of the men’s over-55 knockout competition at the Suffolk Street venue.

Alastair Hope and Bobby Kerr got off to a flying start, winning the first four games with ease. However, the visiting Strathgryffe team soon got used to the artificial clay courts and won the next six games to take the opening set 4-6.

The second set saw the players hold serve until the home side broke it to take the set 7-5.

In the deciding championship tie break the visitors took an early lead and eventually won it 10-4 to take the tie.

On court two, Helensburgh’s Keith Love and Harry Gould’s opening set went with serve until 4-4 when the home side managed to break the visitors’ serve with a range of deep groundstrokes and sharp volleys.

Serving to take the first set, Harry kept his nerve and placed each serve wide, making his opponent struggle to hit a good return, and the pair soon wrapped up the set.

The second set again went with serve but this time it was Keith who was serving at 5-4. Keith’s deep serves proved too much for the visitors as Harry pounced at the net with volley winners. It meant a final score of 3-2 for Helensburgh, who will now play either Rutherglen or Hillhead in the next round.

Meanwhile, the popular Souper Soup Lunch is being held in the clubhouse on Friday, March 24 from noon until 2pm, raising funds for Christian Aid. Donations to the raffle are very welcome.

Helensburgh Tennis Club is home to seven all-weather courts, five synthetic clay and two synthetic grass.  

All seven have floodlights which are free to members. There are also two mini courts and a practice wall.