Booth wins New South Wales Open singles and doubles
Pastoor records breakthrough win while Marino-Hume pushes hard in semi-finals
Kieran Booth has added another pair of domestic Open titles to his illustrious trophy cabinent, winning both draws of the New South Wales Open in Sydney on the weekend.
The second edition of the New South Wales Open on the new Sydney court started on the Friday — and with a few players not travelling up from the southern states it provided an opportunity for others to make an impact.
The first quarter final was between Hobart assistant pro and fourth seed Jackson Pastoor and former Hobartian and now Sydney-sider Alex Rackham. Pastoor started the match strong, aided by errors off the racket of Rackham to take a 3/0 lead. Rackham then found some rhythm and forced some errors from Pastoor who was struggling with a knee issue that he had heavily strapped. Rackham leveled at 3-all. Trading game for game, the pair got to 5-all and it was Rackham who edged his professional counterpart to take the set after Pastoor’s force missed high and cannoned into the roof.
Pastoor again took an early lead in the second set, getting to 4/1 before Rackham fought back again, pulling back to 3/4 and then 4/5. A double fault and two unforced errors from Rackham gave Pastoor three set points, a loose railroad gave Pastoor an opportunity he took with both hands: a straight force down the middle of the court catching the edge of Rackham’s racquet gave the fourth seed the set.
Pastoor freed up in the final set and while he was clearly hampered by the knee issue he again took a commanding lead, this time 5/1 through disciplined play, good serving and tactical chases. At 5/1, 40-30 and defending better than 3 it seemed he was home until he dumped a relatively easy backhand into the net. Rackham then took the next four games swiftly to level at 5-all. In final game the nerves were evident and three errors from Rackham gave Pastoor another three match points. After saving two of them Rackham found the net, a visibly relieved Pastoor walked to the net having just made the first Open semi-final of his short career.
Next up was 2nd seed Chris Chapman taking on the in form and fast improving Sammy Legg. The first few games were close, with Legg showing his improvement and Chapman showing his experience. The pair split the first four games evenly. However, keeping up with a minus-handicap player takes its toll, and a few errors started to creep into the Tasmanian’s game as he tried to match Chapman’s stroke play. The first set went to Chapman, 6/2.
The second set started much the same way as the first. Longish rallies, Legg playing better than his handicap and Chapman steady. Again the errors crept in as Legg tried everything to break the former world number 3’s game down. The man affectionately known as Chappy won the match 6/2 6/1 to lock in a semi final against Pastoor.
He could also lay claim to shot of the day, almost overrunning a ball only to waive his Wayward wand and hit it between his legs to wrong foot Legg who could only float the return — Chapman then sliding a backhand volley under the grille.
Thid on was the top seed Kieran Booth against another former Tasmanian Ted Alexander. Booth professionally went about his work, hitting his targets and serving tight and not giving Alexander a look in. He took the first set 6/1. The second set went much the same way, with Booth keeping his foot on Alexander’s throat and taking the second set 6/0. A professional performance from one of the world’s best amateurs.
The last quarter-final was the all Sydney derby, head pro vs assistant pro, Marino-Hume vs Cherry. Third seed Marino-Hume made a strong start, taking a 2/0 lead before Cherry found a groove to get to 1/2. However Cherry was in 6th gear, effectively trying to overpower his higher ranked opponent. Unfortunately for Cherry he couldn’t hit his targets consistently and sprayed the ball around. As his errors mounted, his frustration grew and he tried to hit the ball harder and harder. Marino-Hume took the set 6/1. The second set followed a similar pattern, with a visibly frustrated Cherry was trying to hit the ball into next week and when he did try to slow things down the steady Marino-Hume retrieved everything and forced more errors. He won the second set to love, securing the last semi final spot, 6/1 6/0.
The semi-finals took place on Saturday, starting with the match between Chapman and Pastoor. Pastoor looked comfortable, securing chases with his first two shots and winning the first game of the match. However much like Legg, his errors started to mount as Chapman used his signature boast and cut volley to perfection, punishing anything loose from the big Tasmanian. While the Hobart pro did have more look-ins and game points, he couldn’t find a conversion as Chapman took the first set 6/1 after a long rally ended with a backhand error from Pastoor.
The second set was much the same — Pastoor took an early lead of 1/0 and 2/1 before Chapman again got on top and forced errors from Pastoor’s racket. Again, game points came and went for Pastoor while Chapman seized on his, accounting for his less experienced opponent 6/1 6/2.
The second of the semi-finals was between Booth and Marino-Hume. Thanks to a few errors and loose shots from Marino-Hume, Booth took an early lead and first set was over in the blink of an eye with Booth taking it 6/1. The second set looked to be heading the same way when Booth led the home professional 5/1. Again Marino-Hume was donating points with loose shots and errors. However, Marino-Hume tightened things up, digging more balls out, staying in the points and wearing Booth down. Marino-Hume levelled the set at 5-all. Booth shot out to a 40-15 lead with a chase worse than 1. For a moment he thought he’d won it with a volley force that looked to be on target, however it clipped the bottom edge of the bandeau and shot out to worse than 5. He steadied in the next point and forced a backhand error from Marino-Hume and setting up a showdown with Chapman in the final.
The doubles competition followed, starting with the semi-finals. Top seeds Booth and Chapman took on Pastoor and Legg. Winning the toss, the Tasmanian pair elected to serve first, with Pastoor getting things underway, serving to Booth. It became apparent to the less experienced pair very early on that both Booth and Chapman were in no mood to hang around as they slapped anything loose into the dedans, taking an early lead and holding it to win the set 6/3. Despite Legg’s best efforts from the back of the court the top seeds went on a tear in the second setand started to over power the Hobartians, building a sizeable lead and never looking back. Match over 6/3 6/0.
The second doubles semi-final started where the first left off as hometown pros and singles quarter final adversaries Marino-Hume and Cherry took on Rackham and Alexander. The pro pair immediately stamped their authority on the match, winning the first set 6/0 in quick time. The second set was a tighter affair with both Rackham and Alexander finding some rhythm, tightening up their games and forcing a few errors of their own. It wasn’t enough though as the second seeds took the set and the match to set up a finals date with Chapman and Booth.
Sunday was Finals Day, with the singles final being played first. Booth and Chapman faced off for the first time in competition since the 2025 Australian Open in Hobart. While both players were struggling to read the court at times, it was the amateur who made the early running and took an unassailable first set lead, winning it 6/1.
The second set was a lot closer with Chapman gaining a narrow lead of 3/2. However, Booth would win the next three games to turn 2/3 into 5/3 and put himself within a game of the title he had narrowly missed out on the previous year. Chapman rallied to take the next game, but the competitive beast that is KB pulled through winning the next game and taking the match and title.
The attention then turned to the doubles where the singles final combatants and previous evening’s football rivals teamed up to take on home pro team Marino-Hume and Cherry. The match started with long rallies with the home pair more than holding their own, however eventually the consistency and weight of shot from the top seeds forced more errors and they ran away with the first set 6/1. The second set was a much tighter affair with the home team raising their level. The pairs traded game for game early, but again the experience shone through, Booth’s impeccable force and Chapman’s heavy cut wore them down yet again and they closed out the match, 6/4 in the second.
The Australian domestic Open series for 2026 concludes in October with the Tasmanian Open, to be held in Hobart.
Match results:
14 August:
12:45 AM: Jackson Pastoor (4) def Alex Rackham 5/6 6/2 6/5
2:30 PM: Chris Chapman (2) def Sammy Legg 6/2 6/1
4:30 PM: Kieran Booth (1) def Ted Alexander 6/1 6/0
6:00 PM: Alexander Marino-Hume (3) def Nathaniel Cherry 6/1 6/0
15 August:
10:30 AM: Jackson Pastoor lost to Chris Chapman (2) 1/6 2/6
12:00 PM: Alexander Marino-Hume lost to Kieran Booth (1) 1/6 5/6
4:45 PM: Kieran Booth & Chris Chapman (1) def Jackson Pastoor & Sam Legg 6/3 6/0
6:00 PM: Ted Alexander & Alex Rackham lost to Alexander Marino-Hume & Nathaniel Cherry (2) 0/6 4/6
16 August:
10:30 AM: Kieran Booth (1) def Chris Chapman (2) 6/1 6/4
2:30 PM: Kieran Booth & Chris Chapman (1) def Alexander Marino-Hume & Nathaniel Cherry (2) 6/2 6/3
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