Woods-Casey takes down Booth to defend Tasmanian Open title
Melbourne pro joins win Michael Williams to take doubles title over Booth and
The 2025 edition of the Tasmanian Open had six entrants to make up the singles field and four pairs for the doubles.
The tournament kicked off on the Friday afternoon with RMTC amateur Paul Rosedale taking on SRTC professional Alex Marino-Hume in what was a monstrous five set tussle. Marino-Hume started well, taking the first set and capitalising on some unforced errors from Rosedale. Rosedale then tightened things up, started to hit a few targets, and took the second and third sets. Marino-Hume struck back and took the fourth, forcing (pun absolutely intended) a deciding fifth. Rosie, as he is affectionately known, kept a cool head to prevail, setting up a semi-final with John Woods-Casey.
The next match saw Michael Williams take on home town professional Jackson Pastoor in what was a very one sided affair. Williams’ target hitting and unwillingness to engage in any rallies rattled Pastoor, who couldn’t find his way into the match. A classy performance from Williams saw him set up a semi-final with top seed Kieran Booth.
The singles semi-finals were straight forward affairs, with both seeds Booth and Woods-Casey winning in straight sets and never allowing their opponents a look in to set up the decider.
Teaming up in the doubles, Booth and Marino-Hume easily accounted for local Hobart members Nick Rooke and John Herbert, dropping a solitary game across the three sets in the first semi-final.
In the second semi-final, Rosedale teamed up with Pastoor as they took on their singles conquerors Woods-Casey and Williams. Although it was a straight sets affair, Rosedale and Pastoor fought hard and pushed the more fancied pair.
Finals day. Two intriguing matches starting with the singles final that can only be described as the match of John Woods-Casey’s real tennis career. His consistent play and tight serving troubling Booth which led to not only defending the title he won last year but recording his first win over Booth.
The doubles final was a seesawing affair with the pairs trading barbs and going set for set. Woods-Casey and Williams held their collective nerve clinching the fifth to take out the title.
Match results:
Tasmanian Open Singles:
Friday 4:00 PM: Paul Rosedale def Alex Marino-Hume 2/6 6/4 6/3 4/6 6/3
Friday 6:00 PM: Michael Williams def Jackson Pastoor 6/1 6/1 6/2
Saturday 9:00 AM: Kieran Booth def Michael Williams 6/3 6/1 6/1
Saturday 11:00 AM: John Woods-Casey def Paul Rosedale 6/4 6/3 6/1
Sunday 10:00 AM: John Woods-Casey def Kieran Booth 6/2 6/2 6/2
Tasmanian Open Doubles:
Saturday 2:00 PM: John Woods-Casey/Michael Williams def Paul Rosedale/Jackson Pastoor 6/3 6/4 6/0
Saturday 4:00 PM: Kieran Booth/Alex Marino-Hume def Nick Rooke/John Herbert 6/0 6/1 6/0
Sunday 2:00 PM: John Woods-Casey/Michael Williams def Kieran Booth/Alex Marino-Hume 6/5 3/6 6/2 4/6 6/1