Willing captures third straight men’s city tennis championship, while Clayton claims women’s crown

QUINCY — Zach Willing discovered the third time truly is a charm.

Twice is nice, too.

Willing won his third consecutive Quincy Tennis Association men’s open division city championship Sunday, beating Ethan Arns in the finals for the second year in a row. Willing won 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park.

Willing will be a senior on the Quincy University men’s tennis team, which is coached by Arns. Last year, Willing beat Arns 6-1, 6-2 in the finals.

Willing reached the finals by beating Eric Brandhorst 6-0, 6-0 and Anthony Becker 6-1, 6-0. Arns beat Jason Fannin 6-1, 6-1 and then knocked off Todd Willing — Zach’s father — 6-2, 6-1.

Brandhorst won the consolation championship, beating Will Hanlin 7-5, 6-2.

In the women’s open division, Olivia Clayton won three matches in straight sets, capping her path to the championship by beating Jamie Steinkamp 6-3, 7-5 in the finals. Clayton opened with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Paige Beckler, then beat Anika Reddy 6-1, 7-5.

Last year, Clayton lost in the final in straight sets to Kendra Maples.

Cindy Crist won the consolation title, beating Aly Young 7-5, 6-4.

In the men’s 4.0 division, Drew Koester beat Surya Reddy 7-6, 6-4 in the championship. In the men’s 3.5 division, Steve Damm beat Randy Dave 2-6, 6-0, 10-5 in the finals. In the women’s 3.5 division, Audra Cain beat Amelia Willing 7-6, 4-6, 32-30.

In the junior 12-and-under division, Dax Klusmeyer beat Riley Beckler 6-4, 6-3 in the title match. In the junior 14-and-under division, Nile Kinnick beat Alex Hamby 6-1, 6-3 to win the championship.