The top three seeds in the 2021 Realway Bundaberg Tennis Open AMT Men’s Singles, Jason Kubler, Calum Puttergill and Will Maher, are all still standing heading into the semi-finals at Drinan Park at 8am today.
Jason, a former world No. 91 who last played in the Bundaberg tournament in 2013 when he was beaten in the grand final by James Duckworth, is looking good to go all the way this time after defeating Sam Oster 6-1, 6-1, Dusan Rsovac 6-0, 6-0, and No. 7 Tom Evans 6-4, 6-0 so far.
But standing in his way is Tai Leonard Sach, who has accounted for Sam Hoskins 6-2, 6-1, fourth seed Jayden Court 7-6 (4), 6-0, and Zak Talic 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3.
The winner will progress to the decider at 11.30am against the victor in the other semi between Numbers 2 and 3 Calum and Will.
Calum started with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Qualifier Connor Richardson, before, in turn, knocking out his brother Liam Puttergill 6-2, 6-4, and No. 5 James Ibrahim 6-1, 7-5, while Will Maher has disposed of Sam Baldwin 6-1, 6-1, Shuannon Tricerri 6-1, 6-0, and No. 8 Thomas Braithwaite 6-1, 7-6 (7).
The AMT Women’s Singles has also gone to script so far with the top two seeds Alexandra Bozovic and Megan Smith to meet in the grand final at 9.30am.
Alexandra has progressed with wins over Alexis Melov 6-1, 6-0, Emily Elizabeth Ryan 6-2, 6-2, and No. 5 Maliyah Vili 6-1, 6-0, while Megan Smith has eliminated Rachael Dziedzicki 6-4, 6-2, No. 8 Emma Westman 6-3, 6-3, and No. 6 Cassidy Mataia 6-1, 6-0 to set up a date with destiny.
Alexandra will back up in the Women’s Doubles final at noon with Jessica Fowler, again as the No. 1’s, against Georgia Townsend and Emma Westman, after sealing their berth with wins over Cassidy Mataia and Emily Elizabeth Ryan 6-4, 6-4, and Ava Edmonds and Dilana Rsovac 6-1, 6-1.
In the AMT Men’s Qualification, Bundaberg’s Chris Rae gave it his best shot at the age of 42 in his first tournament for 18 years, but ultimately went down to No. 6 Hugo Joaquim Babakian 5-7, 1-6, before teaming in the Doubles with Lachlan Vickery to defeat Erik Chen and David Rsovac 6-0, 6-1, but be outgunned by the Calum and Liam Puttergill 0-6, 3-6.
Chris said it was a “great experience to play at that level again after all those years”.
“I ran out of legs at 5-4 up in the first set after a few long rallies but couldn't have been more grateful to play with no injuries,” Chris said.
“Lachlan Vickery and I won our first round of doubles in the main draw and went down to the Puttergill brothers (No. 2 seeds) in the second round.
“Thanks to everyone who came out to watch and support me, it was so greatly appreciated.”
The Puttergills went on to book a place in the Men’s Doubles grand final at 1.30pm with a hard-fought 7-6, 4-6, 10-5 win over Sam Oster and Zak Talic.
They will take on fourth seeds Louis Clark and Winter Meagher, who also had to dig deep in their semi to overcome top seeds Will Maher and Sam Ryan-Ziegann in an epic three-set battle 7-5, 1-6, 12-10.
