Flagstaff Freighters fall short in Melbourne in Asia-Pacific Tennis League

FLAGSTAFF Freighters' gallant tilt at back-to-back Asia-Pacific Tennis League titles has ended at the last hurdle.

FLAGSTAFF Freighters' gallant tilt at back-to-back Asia-Pacific Tennis League titles has ended at the last hurdle.

The Freighters went down to highly-fancied Victorian club Royal South Yarra in an epic women's final at Melbourne Park on Tuesday night, four rubbers and eight sets to two rubbers and six sets.

In a see-sawing tie, Royal South Yarra prevailed after a super tiebreak in the second doubles clash.

Flagstaff started on the back foot after Magda Linette, Viktorija Rajicic and Karolina Wlodarczak lost their singles rubbers but Jessica Moore won hers to give the club a sniff.

When Moore and 14-year-old Petra Hule teamed to triumph in their doubles match, an upset was on the cards.

But Australian top 10 players Storm Sanders and Olivia Rogowska edged Linette and Nicole Collie 11-9 in the super tiebreak to seal the result.

The loss comes 12 months after Flagstaff beat NSW club the Steelers to win last year's crown.

The tournament, in its third year, comprises an abbreviated scoring system.