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Tennis player breaks her Silver Cup drought

Brisbane player breaks long drought to win Toowoomba tennis tournament.

Silver Cup final

TENNIS: Kaylah McPhee has finally broken her Easter Silver Cup drought.

The Brisbane 20-year-old, who has been playing in the Toowoomba tournament since her early teens, secured her breakthrough title on Easter Monday.

TOP SHOT: Kaylah McPhee hits a forehand during the Silver Cup final against Olivia Gadecki as part of Easter Gold Cup tournament at Toowoomba Tennis Association. McPhee won the final in three sets 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1. Picture: Kevin Farmer
TOP SHOT: Kaylah McPhee hits a forehand during the Silver Cup final against Olivia Gadecki as part of Easter Gold Cup tournament at Toowoomba Tennis Association. McPhee won the final in three sets 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1. Picture: Kevin Farmer

McPhee was forced to work for the win fighting back from a set down to beat Olivia Gadecki 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.

"I've always played this tournament but I haven't always had the best of luck," McPhee said.

"It's really great to finally win it."

After a challenging first set, McPhee attributed her turnaround in performance to a significant change in attitude and approach.

"I wasn't having much fun out there. I wasn't playing very well and I was having confidence issues with my forehand," she said.

"I decided I needed to have a better attitude - try to win at all costs.

"I wasn't trying to hit the ball hard - I was just trying to hit the ball in."

As confidence in her forehand grew McPhee stepped up her game before dominating the final set.

"I started to get a small amount of confidence in my forehand again and I started to make a few more balls," she said.

"You win a few points, you start feeling good, and then that translates into the tennis.

"As the match went on I just started feeling better and better and then you see the finish line and you just want to keep working hard."

Mitchell wins third cup

Ben Mitchell won his third Easter Gold Cup following the retirement of opponent Gavin Van Peperzeel.

With Mitchell leading the game 6-3 4-1 Peperzeel withdrew from the match - succumbing to a knee injury he sustained in the first set.

Mitchell was reserved but happy post-match.

Ben Mitchell wins the Easter Gold Cup at Toowoomba Tennis Association after defeating Gavin Van Peperzeel who withdrew due to injury, Monday, April 2, 2018. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Ben Mitchell wins the Easter Gold Cup at Toowoomba Tennis Association after defeating Gavin Van Peperzeel who withdrew due to injury, Monday, April 2, 2018. Picture: Kevin Farmer

"It's a bit hard to judge your performance when you're playing a wounded bear," Mitchell said.

"Generally though I'm pretty happy with my performance over the tournament.

"My game against Dane Sweeny in the first round was probably one of the highest quality games I've ever been involved in."

Originally published as Tennis player breaks her Silver Cup drought

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/tennis-player-breaks-her-silver-cup-drought/news-story/7028a8ad35f2a5151a958d1f3680c37d