FUN was the name of the game as Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club (DTSC) held their third Fun Tennis Tournament of the year.  

The format for this tournament was Fast4 Mixed Doubles and everyone played four sets with different partners each time, trying to win as many sets as possible. 

Fast4 tennis is played to normal tennis rules with the following exceptions.

Each game has a deciding point instead of deuce and as it is mixed, the receiver will always be the same sex as the server.

READ MORE: Dorchester Spring Tennis Tournament 2024 - report

Each set is the first to four games with a tie-break at 3-3. Tie-breaks are first to five points.

There are also no lets, when serving, if the ball goes into the correct service box after hitting the net, play continues but either receiver can hit the ball which made for some exciting points.

Four women and men were assigned to each of the three courts and the top man and woman on each court then progressed to the semi-finals along with a lucky loser man and woman, who were the top performers overall not to win their courts. 

The tennis was fast and furious and after a fun round robin session where everyone played a set with all the other people on their court of the opposite sex, our semi-finalists were decided.

In the first semi-final, Julie Nash and Des Lenehan beat Jane Jones and Dugald Lockhart.

In the second semi-final, Rebecca Hambleton and Mike Williams edged out Lesley Beeton and James Odell.

All hopes were for a close final, but Nash and Lenehan came out firing on all cylinders and in the end it was a one-sided affair as they beat Hambleton and Williams 4-0.

It was a fun day of tennis for all and after the presentation ceremony, everyone enjoyed a pot-luck lunch in the club lounge.

Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club is running a three-month introductory membership promotion.

The cost is only £65 and will allow you to play tennis, squash, racketball or table tennis with all court lights included in the price.

Anyone taking up this offer will be able to play any of the sports for fun, join in with club sessions, have some coaching, enter a tournament or play in a team. Once the three months are up, they’ll have the option to convert their membership to a full club membership.

For more information, visit: www.dtsc.org.uk or email: admin@dtsc.org.uk or phone 01305 268103 from 9-11am on weekdays.