In the women’s draw, debutant OCdt Milly Wood (East Midlands UOTC, above) defeated the top ranked Cpl Chloe Pike (Int Corps) in the semi-finals to set up a clash with Sig Emma McMahon (R Signals) in the final, where she claimed a straight sets victory.
Having traded blows early on, the aspiring army doctor won five consecutive games to take the first set 6-2, before clinching the second 6-3.
“This is my first experience of army tennis, so I didn’t really have any expectations coming in,” the University of Nottingham student told SoldierSport.
“My first serve percentage was quite high, and I was concentrating on the third and fourth balls, the rallies were breaking down a bit after that. There was not much between us.
“It has been a unique opportunity and it is brilliant to come here and win.”
Wood will be in the mix for the army teams that will compete at this month’s Inter-Services at Wimbledon, as will newly crowned men’s champion LCpl Warok Rai (REME).
He defeated second seed Maj Tristan Williams (R Welsh) in the semi-finals before taking on Capt Sean Marren (Gren Gds) in the final.
After taking the first set 6-1, Rai saw his opponent – who earlier triumphed over defending champion and top seed Pte Marco Wright (Para) – withdraw through injury in the second.
“It is an unreal feeling,” Rai said after lifting the trophy.
“I left tennis a few years ago and didn’t know if I would enjoy it again, so I’m thankful to the army for this opportunity. “This is not the way I wanted to win, but sometimes that’s how it goes.”
