January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Lambert sisters keep it in the family
Lambert sisters keep it in the family
Jackie Lambert beat her older sister Tara to claim the singles title, before the pair got straight back on the court to defeat Jill Finnigan and Laverne Stowe in straight sets in the doubles.
The pair - Bermuda's version of the Williams sisters - are running out of space at home for all their silverware after enjoying years of success locally.
Tara, 28, has traditionally held sway in encounters between the sisters but Jackie, 21, showed the tide is starting to turn with her 6-4, 7-5 triumph on Saturday.
She said: "It's hard playing Tara because she has the complete game.
"I'm so excited even when I get a game off her, I'm thinking 'oh my gosh'. I'm just happy to be on the scoreboard.
"I must be catching her up a little bit and hopefully I can beat her next time too."
Tara admits the days of her triumphing in their matches may be over but insists she will not let her sister run away with it.
She said: "That's not going to happen.
"It's just like Venus and Serena - somebody had to win, somebody has to lose, it won't always be the same person.
"She had it all on Saturday. She played an awesome match. It's not a disappointment to lose to a very impressive young competitor named Lambert."
Not getting easier
Tara revealed she will have to step up her training to keep up with her sister.
She said: "It doesn't get any easier. Each time we play each other I see how she has progressed and grown as a player.
"She is a bit fitter than I am and she's hitting the ball really well.
"I'm going to have to step it up a little bit more."
Tara now has a 3-2 record over her sister in competitive matches and Jackie admits she prefers to play with her sister rather than against her.
The duo, who's father is BLTA president David Lambert, will team up to compete in doubles action for Bermuda at the Caribbean Championships in Trinidad and Tobago later this year.
She said: "Hopefully we'll play together, we make a good team."
Stowe and Finnigan found that out on Saturday, with the Lamberts clinching a 7-6 win in the first then finishing the job 6-0 in the second set.
"We play with each other as much as possible. We are a pretty strong duo and we understand each other's game well," said Tara, who also finished runner-up along with Romar Douglas in the mixed doubles.
They went down to Stowe and Bascome on Friday night.[[In-content Ad]]
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