By Gary Caffell
Wairarapa’s Marcus Daniell showed just why is he ranked among the top 50 doubles players in the world at the Pascoes national open tennis championships held in Auckland last week.
Daniell was in sublime form as he combined with his New Zealand Davis Cup teammate Artem Sitak to justify their top seeding in the men’s doubles.
Confronting them in the final were second seeds Finn Tearney and Ben McLachlan with Daniell and Sitak running out comfortable 6-1 6-4 winners, and securing themselves a wildcard spot for the ASB Classic in January in the process.
Match commentators emphasised Daniell’s stunning returns of service as well as his trademark agility and quick reactions at the net while Sitak served and retrieved brilliantly.
It was Daniell’s first national men’s doubles title and Sitak’s fourth.
The victory was a wonderful early Christmas present for Daniell after a hectic week at home in Masterton where he underwent minor surgery as well as being involved in university examinations, followed by some intense off-court physical training sessions in Auckland.
