Dunn and MacPherson win decade-first mixed doubles Scottish Open title

The Scottish Open concluded in perfect fashion, as home pair Alexander Dunn and Julie MacPherson secured the mixed doubles title over Ruben García and Lucia Rodríguez.

Dunn said: “Going into the game, we knew if we focused on ourselves then we’d win, obviously it wasn’t as smooth as that but I was really pleased that Julie stepped up at the end of the first set. They fought really hard as you’d do but we managed to get over the line by fighting hard.”

MacPherson added: “The Scottish Open is a tournament I’ve always wanted to win so it feels amazing to finally get over the line and win it. The home crowd helped so much, we could hear everyone supporting us so that really helped.”

Coach Bob Blair said: “It’s just nice to see them get through and be champions. You could see the nerves and that our level was not the same as yesterday, but when you’re looking to win a championship at home that’s something you have to contend with.

“It’s a nice end to a good week for them.”

Home favourites Dunn and MacPherson only paired up this year but came second at the Hylo Open in early November, highlighting the potential that came to fruition in Glasgow.

This potential helped the Scots into an early 6 to 5 lead, but García’s smashes from the backcourt were proving a consistent source of pressure.

García and Rodríguez’s communication was particularly impressive as they alternated between positions on the court, but MacPherson produced a series of surgically accurate shots to give her team an 11 to 9 lead at the interval.

Post-interval saw both teams trade errors, with some poor serves from the Scots matched by long clears beyond the back line by García.

Four consecutive points from the Spanish pair saw them within reach of the first game at 19 to 16, but persistence from Dunn and MacPherson forced enough errors to take the game to 20 each.

A powerful smash from Dunn again levelled the scores at 21 to 21, with a Rodríguez shot into the net sealing the first game for the Scottish pair 23 to 21.

The second game opened up with a display of Dunn’s accuracy, first stretching to keep the play alive then producing an inch-perfect clear into the right corner to the disbelief of García.

With doubles coach Blair offering advice, the Scottish pair took an 8 to 4 lead in the second game, forcing their opponents back with smashes. However, García showed unbelievable finesse to place a drop shot from the backcourt just out of the reach of Dunn to make it 8 to 5.

More smashes from Dunn were paired with a perfect drop shot to leave Scotland in a commanding 11 to 7 lead at the interval.

Coach Blair called for pressure from the restart from his players, but García and Rodríguez withstood multiple long rallies to level the game at 11 each.

A Scottish pair hadn’t won the mixed doubles since Blair himself in 2014, but five consecutive points from Dunn and MacPherson took them within three points of a famous win.

Dunn produced a well-placed strike down the centre, followed by a fortunate strike off the net from MacPherson to take them to match-point, where an error from the Spanish team gave the Scottish Open a home win.

In what was the final match of the whole tournament, the Emirates Arena erupted as Dunn and MacPherson won 23, 21 to 21, 16 to earn a deserved mixed doubles title.