The best game of the tournament was saved for the lucky last at the Cairns Tennis International
Arguably the best tennis match of the Cairns Tennis International was saved for the very last one of the tournament. READ ALL ABOUT THE FINALS HERE >>>
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Arguably the best tennis match of the Cairns Tennis International was saved for the very last one of the tournament.
Rio Noguchi v Blake Ellis - Men’s Final
The men’s final between the No. 1 seed from Japan Rio Noguchi and the No. 2 seed from Brisbane Blake Ellis went to three sets with a nailbiting finish which left people wanting more.
Noguchi held on to claim the third set in a tie breaker to run out 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) winner and claim the Cairns Tennis International title.
The 25-year-old said he was extremely tired after a wonderful yet hard match.
“It was a great match, tough opponent to play against,” Noguchi said.
“I love Cairns, I will be back next year.
“I really enjoyed my time here playing in the tournament.”
Noguchi was up 4-1 in the final set and looking like he was on his way to claim a comfortable victory in the third set.
That was until Ellis found the Lions’ fight in him to draw back winning the next four games to take the lead.
Ellis said he was disappointed but proud he knew he could fight back like he did.
“I think he broke me early in the third set and was leading 3-0 and I thought to myself that I didn’t want to lose the set without getting a game,” Ellis said.
“But then a few things went my way and against him and my shots started landing again.
“It was a great match, it does suck to be on this side of it but that is the sport at the end of the day.
“Now I just look at next week and prepare for the second week of this event and then the remainder of the year.
“The summer here in Australia has a lot of tournaments, so I will just be preparing for them.”
Ellis found the form he needed at the time where it was most important by attacking the net causing Noguchi to attempt the hit the ball harder and deeper only to hit the ball out.
When Ellis didn’t approach the net and stuck to the baseline, Noguchi had an open court and found majority of his winning shots were to the right hand side of the court or towards Ellis’ forehand.
Talia Gibson v Lizette Cabrera - Women’s Final
North Queenslander Lizette Cabrera has vowed to ‘win’ the next Cairns Tennis International after the heartbreaking loss in Sunday’s final.
Taking on the No. 1 seed from Perth, Talia Gibson, Cabrera went down 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) at Cairns Tennis International Centre.
It is the second year in a row that the girl from Townsville has lost in the final of the tournament.
Cabrera said she will be back for the second week of the tournament.
“Yeah, I am going to win it,” Cabrera said.
“It was disappointing to lose but I learnt a lot this week and now to refocus and prepare for this week coming.
“She (Gibson) is a really great player, strong tennis player, so not taking anything away from her.
“I love playing here in Cairns, it is pretty much home for me and to play in the final, in front of the crowd was a pretty amazing feeling.”
A large number of unforced errors cost Cabrera two service games in the opening set, handing Gibson the breaks.
Despite being broken again in the second set, Cabrera broke back during the second set winning three games in a row to push the match to a tie breaker.
There will be no rest for Cabrera who jumps straight into the second week of the Cairns Tennis International on Monday.
“So I have Cairns again, then a week off, then a tournament in Sydney,” Cabrera said.
“Then after that I have another week off before three weeks worth of tournaments.
“We have the Australian summer as well so there is plenty on ahead.”
West Australian Talia Gibson was full of praise for her opponent after the straight sets win.
“It has been a great week, and to play in the final here in Cairns against Liz was really special,” Gibson said.
“She is a great tennis player, kept me on my toes at times as well.
“Now I look forward to the next few months of what is ahead and keep working on my game.
“Played here last year at the event and that was a lot of fun, was pretty glad to be back.”
The 20-year-old will now fly back to Perth as she prepares for her next big challenge.
“The Australian summer is massive for tennis,” Gibson said.
“Now I just have to work on a few things, and get stuck into the next coming tournaments.”
CAIRNS TENNIS INTERNATIONAL FINAL’S - LIVE BLOG
Queenslander Blake Ellis has had a dominant tournament so far at the Cairns Tennis International.
Now, the 25-year-old will have to get through the No.1 seed and Japan’s Rio Noguchi to claim the championship.
Ellis and Noguchi have only played on one occasion with the Australian winning 4-6, 6-0, 5-7.
The No.1 seed, 25-year-old Noguchi has a ATP ranking of 288 with 327 wins and 223 losses.
While Ellis (No.2 seed) has an ATP ranking of 368 with 231 wins and 168 losses.
Keep updated with the live blog below.
3:45PM: NOGUCHI ON TOP
Rio Noguchi held on in a nail biting finish to claim the Cairns Tennis International on Sunday afternoon.
The No.1 seed managed to hold off a fast finishing No.2 seed, Blake Ellis to win 6-7(5-7), 6-4, 7-6(7-4).
3:36PM: TIE BREAKER TO FINISH
Ellis and Noguchi have been hard to separate all day and it is only fiiting the two head to a tie breaker to finish the third and final set.
The Queenslander (Ellis) was down 4-1 and pegged it back after finding the Brisbane Lions spirit to fight to a tie breaker.
On three occasions Noguchi was on match points during Ellis’ last service game, but the No.2 seed managed to hold serve sending the decider to a champagne finish.
3:08PM: FINDING THEIR GAMES
The No.1 seed has found his game at the right time of the match, in the third set when he needed to find it.
Noguchi led 4-1 before Ellis held and then broke serve to peg it back to 4-3.
If Ellis attacks the net, he puts Noguchi on the back foot, resulting in the No.1 seed hitting the ball too hard and going long.
While if Ellis doesn’t attack the net, then Noguchi has free range, winning most of his points down the right hand side of the court.
2:39PM: BREAK SERVE, BREAK DEADLOCK
Noguchi broke the only service game in the second set to claim the set 6-4 and send the men’s final into a third and final set.
The 25-year-old from Japan looked in trouble in the final point of the last game before finding his feet and composure to win the set with the perfect forehand down the line.
2:30PM: NO SLICE AND DICE
It is evident why Noguchi and Ellis are the No.1 and No.2 seed for the Cairns Tennis International as neither player is giving an inch in the final.
Noguchi leads the second set 4-3 with games consisting of back to back rallies dn cheers from the crowd as we look likely to be going to a third set.
1:54PM: TIE BREAKER IN OPENER
The first set has put on an absolute show for tennis fans, going to a tie breaker at the Cairns Tennis International.
Brisbane’s Blake Ellis claimed the first set against Japan’s Noguchi 7-6 (7-5)
1:30PM: CAN’T SPLIT THEM
The men’s final between the No.1 seed from Japan, Rio Noguchi and Brisbane’s Blake Ellis has fans on the edge of their seat already as we remain deadlocked in the first set.
Ellis broke serve early in the set before Noguchi broke back just a game later to pull the score to 4-4.
12:35PM: GIBSON CAIRNS CHAMPION
West Australian Talia Gibson has claimed the Cairns Tennis International for 2024 after claiming the final in straight sets.
Gibson was pushed in the second set to a tie breaker but won 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).
12:15PM: GIBSON SERVES FOR TITLE
Cabrera held her last service game to take trail by just one game but it hands the serve over the Gibson for the match.
Gibson holds a 5-4 lead in the second set.
12:03AM: BREAKS GALORE IN CAIRNS
Gibson broke serve for the third time this match, giving her a 3-2 lead in the second set.
But Cabrera wasn’t to be out done, breaking right back to bring the second set back to level pegging before Gibson broke again taking a 4-3 lead.
The No.1 seed (Gibson) is just two game away from winning the Cairns Tennis International.
11:39AM: GIBSON CLAIMS FIRST SET
Western Australia’s Talia Gibson and the No.1 seed claimed the first set 6-2.
Gibson was powerful and explosive from the start, show casing her skills as Cabrera made a number of unforced errors which could proved costly.
Cabrera claimed the first game of the second set to hold serve.
11:30AM: COSTLY UNFORCED ERRORS
Cabrera started the first set the same way she finished off the semi final, in blistering form but a number of unforced errors have cost her a second service game and a number of opportunity when returning serve.
Gibson holds a 5-2 lead and will be serving for the first set.
11:17AM: GIBSON’S EARLY BREAK
Cabrera blitzed her way through in the opening service game, winning on her serve with Gibson doing the same in the second game,
But it was Gibson who was the first to break the deadlock, breaking the Cabrera’s second service game to take a 2-1 lead.
11:07AM: GIBSON TO RECEIVE
Number One seed Talia Gibson has won the toss and has given Lizette Cabrera the first serve.
North Queensland’s Lizette Cabrera takes on Talia Gibson at the ITF World Tennis Tour Cairns International in the final on Sunday.
The No. 7 seed Cabrera returns to the final after making it in 2023, this time she will be looking to keep the trophy in North Queensland.
Cabrera will have to get past the No. 1 seed from Western Australia, Talia Gibson who hasn’t look troubled this tournament.
The two finalists have met on two occasions before today’s final, splitting the difference at one match a piece.
Cabrera won the first meeting in three sets, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6 in February 2023 with Gibson winning the second meeting in September 2024 in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.
Gibson, 20, is ranked 129th in the WTA Rankings, having 131 wins and 73 losses in her career.
While Cabrera, 26, is ranked 427 in the WTA and has an ITF ranking of 904, with 256 wins and 232 losses.
’I wouldn’t do that’: Controversy in Cairns Tennis International
Controversy wasn’t enough to stop North Queensland tennis gun Lizette Cabrera from blasting her way into the Cairns Tennis International semi final.
The No. 7 seed, Cabrera battled it out in the Cairns heat for a three set, Two-and-a-half hours against No. 3 seed from Japan Kyoka Okamura to claim a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Cabrera held a 4-1 lead in the final set before Okamura fought back to bring the score back to 5-4 with Cabrera serving for the match.
The controversy came in the final point with Cabrera up 40-30.
“I played the best shot of my life, I hit the perfect half volley and the it had so much spin on it,” Cabrera said.
“It hit my racquet and bounced on her side of the court and spun back onto my side.
“But she (Okamura) thought I hit it into the ground but if that was the case then it wouldn’t have had the spin on it like it did.
“But also, I wouldn’t do that and claim the point and I hope people wouldn’t like to win that way either.”
Cabrera will now head into the semi final on Saturday taking on the winner of either Elena Micic and Maddison Inglis.
The No. 7 seed is the final North Queenslander in the tournament and is looking to make the title her own.
“I love playing in Cairns, coming from Townsville, I feel like Cairns is my home as well,” Cabrera said.
“I made it to the final last year and didn’t quite get across the line so it would be nice to get to the final and go one further this time.
“Things didn’t go right for me in the opening set here, and she was playing really good tennis.
“But I flicked a few things around in the second set and then continued with those things.
“I just need to get a good nights rest and a good feed for dinner tonight and I should be able to start the way I finished.”
Australia’s No. 1 junior tennis star battles it out at Cairns International
Australia’s number one ranked junior female tennis star has gone down in a gutsy effort at the Cairns Tennis International on Thursday morning.
Gold Coast’s Emerson Jones fell short of a semi final appearance, bowing out 6-3, 6-3 to number three seed, Japan’s Kyoka Okamura.
Jones held a three games to one lead in the second set and looked in a commanding position before unforced errors got the better of her, causing her to lose the next five games.
The 16-year-old said there was a lot to take out of the match up.
“There were a few unforced errors and in the end they cost me the match,” Jones said.
“Not taking anything away from my opponent, she played a great game definitely and is a really strong player.
“She (Okamura) had answers for almost everything I threw her way.
“But those mistakes, especially in that second set after having the lead does hurt.”
Jones made a number of unforced errors, giving up leads during games when either serving or returning serve.
Even though it wasn’t her day on the court, Jones was all smiles off the court with having her grandmother and Cairns tennis legend Bernice Asplin watching on.
“It was great to play in front of her,” Jones said.
“With travelling all the time, overseas and to events, we don’t get to see her as much as we would like.
“So to have her here does mean a lot.
“Would have liked to have gotten the win for her but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.”
Asplin said her granddaughter is a great tennis player but she is an even better person and that is the main thing.
Despite being kicked out of the singles tournament, Jones is now preparing herself for the doubles tournament with her partner Elena Micic.
“Focus now is getting things right and just preparing for doubles,” Jones said.
“But I will be back next week for the second week of the Cairns tournament.
“It is such a great place, so definitely I will be back.”
On centre court to start the day was a match which had people glued to their seats as number eight seed Micic fought hard for a 7-6, 6-4 win against wildcard Tahlia Kokkinis.
Nothing could break the two players in the first set, with neither dropping a service game before Micic managed to hold on and break through in the tie breaker in the first set.
The second set ran just as similar to the opening set but Micic was able to break serve on one occasion giving her the edge to eventually hold out 6-4 in the second set to advance through to the semi finals.
While North Queenslander Lizette Cabrera has advanced to the semi finals after a straight sets win over fellow Australian wildcard Tenika McGiffin.
Cabrera looked in complete control from the get go and walked away 6-2, 6-3 to now take on number three seed Okamura on Friday.
Cairns born returns to centre court on Tennis International day 3
A Cairns born tennis gun has returned to the Far North, breezing through his final 16-match.
Tai Leonard Sach moved from Cairns to the Gold Coast at 12-years-old to grow and develop his tennis and chasing his dream of becoming a professional tennis star.
Now, the 22-year-old has returned to the Tropics to take part in the Cairns Tennis International.
In his first meeting with fellow Australian Roger Rogowski, Sach left nothing in the tank, finishing his 6-1, 6-4 match in just over an hour.
Sach said he knows he has to remain focused.
“You can’t lose track of what you are doing, paying attention what works and what doesn’t against every opponent,” Sach said.
“It is great to be back here and playing on what is my home court.
“It was a great match up, he (Rogowski) is a great player.
“He took it to me in the second set, things went my way in the first but he challenged me.
“That is what you love about this sport is challenges are at every corner, no matter what stage of the match.”
Ranked number 4 in the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour rankings, Sach said it is great to see his home town on the world stage.
“To have people from all around the world come here to compete in Cairns, it is something else,” Sach said.
“It is such a beautiful place, definitely hotter than some places.
“But that is okay because I love the heat, more than others do and I am so used to this heat.”
The 22-year-old moved away from Cairns due to the lack of competition in the region but is excited to see the growth of the sport in the Far North.
“Moving to the Gold Coast was a great move for me, my coach and I have definitely been working hard for this,” Sach said.
“But it is great to see the junior talent coming through here in Cairns.
“I have been training five to six hours everyday to prepare for this tournament.
“And that is just the type of work you have to do to get better.
“I mean, you come into every tournament thinking you are going to win otherwise you won’t last very long.”
Sach will now take on the 11th seed from Japan Taketo Takamisawa who defeated Australian Tomislav Edward Papac 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday.
Day three had plenty of action around the courts.
No. 2 seed Sam Ryan Ziegann was pushed to three sets by fellow Australian and No. 15 seed Jack Bruce-Smith.
Ziegann dropped the opening set on court 2 in the blazing heat but fought back in the second and managed to hold off in a tight finish in the third to head into the final eight. – 4-6, 6-3, 11-9.
No. 3 seed from Japan, Yuichiro Inui went down in his match up to Australian Zachary Adam-Gedge in three sets.
Gedge dropped the opening set but managed to hold off in the second and claim the third set to advance to the next round. – 6-3, 5-7, 8-10.
There was an upset in the second match of the day on centre court with No. 2 seed in the women’s Laquisa Khan bowing out in straight sets to No. 10 seed and fellow Australian Natalie Gaft.
Nothing looked like it was going right for Khan and Gaft had an answer for everything the No. 2 seed threw at her to run out 3-6, 6-7 winner.
After fighting off back spasms and a gutsy opponent in her first match, the No. 1 women’s seed Carolann Delaunay claimed her second match of the tournament defeating Ava-Monet Sycamore.
Sycamore started slowly again, similar to her final 32 match but wasn’t able to break through going down in straight sets. 6-4, 7-5.
While North Queensland product Lizette Cabrera made light work of her first match of the tournament.
Coming up against Japan’s Nanari Katsumi, Cabrera never looked troubled and didn’t let up to claim a 6-2, 6-3 win on centre court.
Back spasms, heat and controversy played out in day two of Cairns Tennis International
The Cairns Tennis International heated up on Monday with the number one seed fighting off back spasms and a gutsy opponent to advance to the third round.
Carolann Delaunay looked to be in trouble at the end of the second set requiring medical attention due to soreness in the lower back.
The girl from New Caledonia fought through the pain, the Cairns heat and a determined Australian Naomi McKenzie to win in three sets – 3-6, 6-4, 12-10.
Delaunay said couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the tournament.
“She (McKenzie) was a tough opponent, she was winning a lot of points and played very well,” Delaunay said.
“I was struggling early on, my legs weren’t working and she won the first set.
“Then I came back in the second and won that even though my back was hurting a lot.
“But it was a very good match up and a great challenge to start the tournament.
“I will rest up today and prepare for my next match whether that is tomorrow or the next day.”
The controversy came in the final point where McKenzie hit a shot deep in the court with Delaunay calling it out only for McKenzie to question the call.
An official was standing by and brought the two players together as from his angle the ball looked on the line.
Ultimately the point was replayed and Delaunay won the following point, winning the third set 12-10.
Earlier the men’s number one seed, Australian Thomas Braithwaite defeated fellow Australian Marin Dumitru 6-3, 6-2 to start off centre court.
Followed by the men’s sixth seed Tomislav Edward Papac defeating fellow Australian Matthew Duffy 6-0, 6-2.
Hometown tennis star breezes past opening round
A Cairns tennis star has returned to the region to take part in the Cairns Tennis International, showcasing her skills on the opening day of the tournament.
Sienna Jensen opened her tournament on court one on Sunday morning, taking on fellow Australian Sophie McDonald.
Jensen made light work of her opening round qualifier, winning the match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.
The former Cairns product said it was great to get the first match out of the way.
“Coming into these tournaments you don’t know what to expect but it was great to get the win first up,” Jensen said.
“She (McDonald) is a really good player, sometimes things do go against you.
“I love playing here, it is such a beautiful place and I mean just have a look at the type of day we are having.
“It is such a great tournament, I am excited for the rest of this week and to back it up in the following Cairns tournament next week as well.”
There was plenty of action across the courts on Sunday as the first round of qualifiers took place.
Jensen will now head to round two on Monday.
“Haven’t seen the fixtures yet but looking forward to the match up,” Jensen said.
“That is the thing about this sport, no matter who you come up against, you have to be on your game.”
Having not played in the region since she left in 2019, Jensen is looking forward to eventually getting some time to relax in her home town.
“I did forget about how humid it could be when playing here in Cairns, had to take a few more breaks this time,” Jensen said.
“But it is such a beautiful place, it’s home and I do love coming back.
“It is so different to Brisbane, with the weather and the scenery as well.”
Jensen will take on 13th seed, Ava-Monet Sycamore in her round 2 match up on Monday.
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