Dalbeattie wheelchair tennis player Keith Thom marked his return to competition with success in the Scottish Wheelchair Championships.
A combination of coronavirus restrictions and an ongoing injury prevented Keith from training and he has only recently been able to pick up a racket again. Now training at Chatsworth Carlisle with new coach Ben Davidson, the main aim was to get as fit as possible in the short time leading up to the event.
In the singles at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Tennis Centre, Thom won his first match comfortably, leading to a quarter-final against old rival Pete Moore. However, a lack of match play and fitness was a major impact on Keith’s performance, Moore proving to be too strong.
In the doubles, Keith teamed up with a former partner - Ruiari Logan from Edinburgh. The 19-year-old has also just returned to competitive play after a long period off.
Seeded first based on previous results and current world rankings, the pair received a bye into the quarter-finals. Hitting a bit of form, they comfortably reached the final against Moore and former Paralympian Simpson.
The first set was comfortable for Thom and Logan with both players attacking the ball, Logan playing from the back allowing Thom the opportunity to control the net with some great volleys and overheads.
The second set lasted a lot longer with most games going to deuce. Again, Logan started to cause problems with his big serves and ground shots allowing Thom to finish off some crucial points. In the end Thom and Logan proved to be too strong, winning in two sets.
Another Dalbeattie wheelchair tennis player made his first appearance in the championships, competing in the novice draw. Lee Lower, better known for his success in athletics and now coached by Keith, did not disgrace himself as he finished in third, just missing out on a medal.
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