THEIR courts have enjoyed an ace return in recent weeks and Dunfermline Tennis Club were able to serve up a welcome return to competitive play.

Following the coronavirus shutdown in March, clubs across Scotland were given the go-ahead to re-open at the end of May, while following hygiene and social distancing guidelines.

Under latest guidance published by Tennis Scotland, internal club competitions have been allowed to resume, and the Bothwell Street club were able to run their annual championship, in which David Holmes completed game, set and match for a 10th time in succession.

His hugely-impressive achievement in the men's singles was part of a slimmed-down programme of 14 events, which consisted of eight junior singles, two adult singles and four adult doubles competitions.

From the beginning of August, a total of 64 club players contested 75 matches to decide the 2020 champions and, with COVID-19 restrictions meaning that spectators were unable to watch, an alternative to the traditional finals weekend was created.

Joining Holmes on the adult singles winning rostrum was Lindsay Mitchell-Henry, who secured the women's title for the second time after defeating the under-14 and under-18 girls' champion, Maria Gourley.

She then teamed up with Rachel Chalmers for the women's doubles, which proved to be a winning formula, while Holmes partnered with Michael Morrison to win the men's event.

Michael's younger sibling, Scott, completed a family double by winning the under-14 boys' singles title, while Rory La Trobe came out on top in the boys' under-18s final.

In the younger age groups, the under-eight event was won by Cameron Green; Marek Klauz took home the under-nine title; Ollie Buchanan served up victory in the under-10 competition; and Rory Payne aced the under-12 tournament.

The club, whose head coach is Graeme Clarkson, is welcoming new members for anyone interested in playing tennis, while special end-of-season membership rates are on offer.

For more information, contact the club by emailing enquiries@dunfermlinetennis.co.uk; visiting their website at https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/dunfermlinetennisbridgeclub; or by finding them on Facebook.