Norfolk’s Mervyn King opened his ‘Just’ World Indoor Singles campaign, ousting Desborough’s newest MBE - Ellen Falkner 6-4, 9-5.
The first set was a tight exchange and could have gone either with both players winning four ends each and a ‘no shot’ on the eighth, but courtesy of two double mid match, King took the set.
In the second set, the match once again stood all square at 3-3 after 4 ends but King, the winner of this title in 2006, scored on three of the next four ends to put the result beyond reproach with an end in hand and move through to a 2nd round match on Tuesday 19th January.
“I’m glad that’s over’ sighed King later. “I knew I would have to play some decent stuff to get the better of Ellen. We’ve been team mates and friends for many, many years and I know her pedigree. The pressure was definitely on me – particularly playing a woman.
“Plus she’d had the advantage of rink time after a great run in the Pairs which added to the pressure on me. But I got over the finishing line and that’s what matters.”
“JUST” WORLD OPEN SINGLES
RESULTS
Mervyn King (Eng) bt Ellen Falkner MBE (Eng) 6-4, 9-5