Second Week of Rocky Closed Delivers High Drama on the Court

The wow factor continued at the Rockhampton Closed Table Tennis Championships last week as the competition drew to a close. While the opening week featured plenty of thrilling contests—including the women’s open singles, veteran singles and doubles, and the men’s round robin stages—onlookers agreed that the final night produced some of the best table tennis of the tournament.

The premier men’s singles title went to Matthew Pettett, who defeated fellow front-runner Rayden Smith in four sets. Smith edged out the opening game in a long deuce, but Pettett’s trademark consistency in extended rallies proved decisive as he secured the next three games.

Both players had been pushed hard in their semi-finals. Pettett survived a fierce challenge from left-hander Nick Green, who had already scraped through a five-set quarter-final against improver Leo Lai. Green then took a two–one lead in their semi before Pettett clawed back to win in a fifth-set nail-biter.

Meanwhile, Smith overcame rising junior Judd Carr, who had stunned third seed and former champion Dane Coughlan in a five-set quarter-final. Carr, riding high from that breakthrough win, fought well against Smith and even managed to take a game, but the more experienced player proved too steady.

The open doubles event lived up to expectations, with top seeds Pettett and Chris Leitner claiming the trophy after three tight sets against Coughlan and Allan Clarke. The champions had earlier overcome Jakob Baker and Ann-Louise Stewart in four games, with that pair fresh off a dramatic quarter-final win over Green and Lai.

Coughlan and Clarke also had to work hard for their place in the final. They edged past Kelsey Pettett and Erica Nolan in four close sets, before outlasting James and Linda O’Sullivan in the semi-final. The O’Sullivans had already turned heads with a classic quarter-final upset, downing Smith and Pam Clarke 13–11 in the fifth.

The plate singles event—designed to give round-robin exits from both men’s and women’s singles another shot at glory—was also stacked with quality clashes. In the final, Erica Nolan claimed the title over Glen McDonald in four sets.

McDonald had booked his spot in the decider with a marathon five-set win over the ever-consistent Monica Deeth, after surviving another epic in the quarters against Leitner, 14–12 in the deciding game.

Nolan’s road to the title was equally tough. She overcame promising junior Cooper Bulow in a competitive four-set semi-final. Bulow himself impressed with a notable quarter-final upset of the in-form Geoff Geddes, again decided in four tight games.