IT WAS an eventful day's play yesterday at the Framlingham Lawn Tennis Tournament and Suffolk Championships. The Suffolk Men's and Ladies' Singles finals were completed, while the Men's and Ladies' Championship Singles events continued to progress.

IT WAS an eventful day's play yesterday at the Framlingham Lawn Tennis Tournament and Suffolk Championships.

The Suffolk Men's and Ladies' Singles finals were completed, while the Men's and Ladies' Championship Singles events continued to progress.

The county ladies' final saw No. 1 seed Louise Rogers face unseeded, Sarah Garman, who was performing in her first-ever final in this event.

Nerves appeared to get the better of Garman as Rogers moved swiftly into a 4-0 lead in the first set. The underdog did begin to loosen up however, as she forced the set into a tie-break.

The more experienced Rogers closed out the tie-break with great efficiency to take the set 7-6 by the narrowest of margins.

The acting Suffolk county captain was playing the perfect grass court game - using a heavy forehand deep towards the baseline in an attempt to keep Garman on a leash.

There were chances in the second set where Rogers could and perhaps should have put Garman out of sight. particularly when Rogers led 3-1, but to Garman's credit, she showed no lack of application or spirit. The second set went as the first, into another tie-break.

Thanks to some gutsy shots, Garman snatched the second set to take it to a decider.

However, the final set saw Rogers take stock of the situation and return to the quality of tennis she produced in the first set. Following two breaks of Garman's serve, Rogers sealed the Suffolk Ladies' Singles title in determined fashion, 7-6 6-7 6-2.

In contrast to the Ladies' Singles match, the Men's final was somewhat of a one-way contest.

Favourite Steven Lockwood had injured himself on Wednesday during his semi-final win over Dominic Hemy.

This caused him to pull out of the Men's Championship Singles altogether in an attempt to focus on yesterday's final with first-time finalist, Jeremy Cowley.

The writing appeared to be on the wall when Cowley powered into a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Lockwood was struggling to serve at barely three-quarters of his usual pace, and was moving gingerly around the court.

Nothing can be taken away from Cowley however, who has shown a fiercely competitive spirit throughout the week.

Lockwood called it a day after losing the set 6-2, with Cowley, a member of the Ipswich tennis side that operate in the Kia National League, the newly-crowned Suffolk Men's Singles champion.

Sandwiched between the two finals was a presentation to stalwart, Joan Hassell, who has been playing at her 50th Framlingham championships this week.

Hassell, who only narrowly lost in her Suffolk Ladies' Doubles semi final this year, collected her award and greatly enthused about the tournament and its organisers.

Hassell said: “Each year this tournament seems to get better and better, and it wouldn't happen without the enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes from helpers and officials.

“This tournament is the envy of counties across the country and I am proud to have played my part.”