No. 10 for Dodd as Le Tissier wins first

Meanwhile, as a packed Island Championships programme concluded with Wednesday’s finals, Chloe Le Tissier earned her maiden women’s crown.

Surprise results have run rampant in this year’s championships at Hougue du Pommier but a milestone triumph for Dodd, who is based in Sheffield and has been unable to attend since winning in 2018, was not among them.

He picked up where he left off and sealed the deal with a four-set victory over classy veteran Phil Ogier.

The first set suggested a one-sided contest as the star left-hander capitalised on Ogier’s errors to lead 5-0, then made it 7-0 with a couple of fine shots and converted that to an 11-1 win.

But Ogier – a seven-time champion – is no pushover and quickly went three up in the second.

Dodd then got into his game of impressive serving and emphatic forehand topspin strokes, regaining control to win 11-6, 11-6 and 11-5.

The winner became the third man to reach double digits, but he claims not to be keeping count.

‘I’m focused on winning what’s in front of me – it could be 10, 20, 30 and I’m just focused on winning the match,’ he said.

‘Huge respect to Phil – great opponent, so gritty and never gives in, a fantastic ambassador for our game.

‘The way he treats every match, the preparation he puts in and his attitude on the table, any kid should be looking at that and taking note.’

Dodd admitted he had started his championships ‘quite slow’ after several years away from the GTTA Centre, but he progressed from there.

‘I really started to play well against Paul [Hainsworth] in the semi – I was serving really well and playing strong third-balls.

‘That was the plan again tonight and I was serving well, but setting myself up for third-balls, and it would be me dictating the play.’

Following development officer Becks O’Keefe’s excellent run to the women’s final, including upsetting top seed Kay Chivers in seven sets, she met her match against Le Tissier.

But it again went the full seven-set distance.

A first-time champion was guaranteed, with youthful Le Tissier leading initially against veteran O’Keefe, who had earlier picked up a hamstring niggle.

O’Keefe then got ahead, leading 2-1 and then 3-2, as her rival battled the nerves of the occasion and struck several patches of unforced errors.

Yet at crunch time, Le Tissier produced an admirable comeback to force a decider and then win it 11-5.

‘I always wanted it when I was younger, so it’s nice to finally win,’ the 23-year-old said.

‘I was a bit nervous because I had never played in an Island final, but I feel I played better as time went on.

‘Against Paula [Le Ber] in the semi-final was a really good game. I was 3-1 down and I did not think I was going to come back and take it.’

Dawn Morgan was unable to defend her women’s title due to being in Australia, with men’s champion Josh going out in a quarter-final battle against twin Lawrence Stacey.

But the Staceys combined to make it four consecutive men’s doubles titles after a six-set battle against veterans Ogier and Jez Powell.

The crucial set came with the match delicately poised at 2-2 and the twins edged through 15-13, before closing out 11-5 in the sixth.

In the women’s doubles, Chivers earned an incredible 26th title but the first with her current partner.

She joined forces with young Marli Barker to defeat O’Keefe and Juliette Yeaman in five sets.

Dodd’s other success on finals night came alongside Carly Tucknott in the mixed doubles.

They overcame a spirited start from Lawrence Stacey and Yeaman, who had initially led 2-1, to win in six sets.

Report from the other 15 finals to follow.