Riviere wins seventh British Open
Howell wins set off Riviere for first time in 3-1 defeat
Camden Riviere has won his third consecutive British Open title, and his seventh overall, following a fabulous four set match against first time British Open finalist Nick Howell.
Howell got off to a really strong start, immediately putting pressure on Riviere with his brutish volleys and hard hitting forcing winning himself the first few games. Riviere was not on song, as Howell also pushed him into the corners causing Riviere to make uncharactersitic racket errors. Howell won four straight games before Riviere could muster his first. At 5/1 Howell lay two short chases, the latter a better than half yard chase. The resultant force from Riviere hit the bottom ledge, bringing up set point to Howell. Howell won the set on a cross court tambour shot, registering his first ever set win against Riviere.
“He played great. I think he was super solid all night,” said Riviere. “He had a really great game plan and was controlling the ball well around the court. First set I was really struggling to find a serve to tie him up. I feel like I was at the service end the majority of the set and was struggling, and that’s generally not a good ratio.”
Howell carried his momentum into the second set building up a 3/1 lead. Riviere then started to play himself into the match. He cut down his errors and raised his energy levels, thick boasting his way out of trouble and bringing Howell forward on the court and out of position. He won the next three games until a few loose serves allowed Howell to rip his famous cut-volley and main wall force and recover to 4-all. Howell had chances for a 5/4 lead, but missed both the winning gallery and the grille by a few inches. Instead it would be Riviere who held firm and took the game, going on to take the set on his third set point.
The players took a short break between sets, and it was Riviere who came out stronger in the third. His control of his shots significantly improved, while Howell’s became more and more indecisive. Howell tried shaking things up but could not execute the lower percentage plays he was attempting. Riviere started to find his targets as the scoreboard pressure built, with Howell making more and more errors. Riviere ran away with the set 6/0. Howell only won nine points in the set.
“I started finding a groove, you find serves that are working,” said Riviere, “started to move a bit better, I think the body loosened up a bit so I was able to cut off more balls on his cut-volley and take the time away and put him under more pressure. We were playing at his tempo at first. Second set was a slow transition to my tempo and third set we were doing what I wanted to do.”
The start of the fourth set was more competitive, with both players exchanging game. Riviere was back to his best scraping out everything from the corners, letting out a big “come on” after one particularly long rally to take a 3/1 lead. To his credit, Howell dug deep and kept the pressure on Riviere, but every blow was met by a counterpunch. Howell fought his way back to 2/3, following an excellent rally featuring an over the back volley from Riviere on a ball threating to run flush with the back wall. Howell then turned up the aggression on his return of serve, beating Riviere on both the cut volley and straight volley off Riviere’s straight railroad to take a 4/3 lead. His run came to an end searching for the hazard galleries with his ball finding the high part of the net, Howell dropping his racket on the floor in disbelief. Riviere pounced, taking the next game to love, and opening a 5/4 lead and winning the first three points of the last game. Howell saved the first three match points, with some desparate rallies, finishing with deft touches beating Riviere in the corners. He saved the fourth match point will a perfect chandelle, beating Riviere as he tried to turn on it. Howell then levelled the set beating a chase better than 2 hitting the dedans. Riviere finally landed his force on the sixth match point, causing a volley error from Howell.
“I felt like I had momentum and I felt like I was in control, it was just execution,” said Riviere, “I had the early lead, he fought back, he played a great couple of games in the middle of the set to go 4/3 up. I felt like I battled back to 5/4 40-0, and in you’re mind you’re like “one point, just try and close it out”. I didn’t execute, hitting main walls onto the penthouse over and over again and giving him opportunities to gain some confidence.
“They all feel different but they all feel great. Any time you’re lifting up the trophy is an accomplishment. Today’s was definitely hard fought so it always feels a bit better when you’ve had that challenge and you’ve stepped up, which is certainly what today was.”
Both players will be in action in the doubles final on Tuesday, while Riviere sets his next sights on the Australian Open in Hobart in January.
The result also confirms the standings in the World Race, with Howell unable to overcome Lumley for the first seed, while Taylor-Matthews secured the third seed over Virogna earlier in the week. Players will have until December to confirm their participation in the Eliminators, after which players will be able to submit bids for hosting rights for the first round.
Match results:
Camden Riviere (1) def Nick Howell (2) 2/6 6/4 6/0 6/5
Order of play for Tuesday:
6:00 pm: Tim Chisholm & Camden Riviere (1) vs Nick Howell & Leon Smart (2)