Travis repeats his '18 Akron Open title in the closest Akron Open in Akron Open history!
As the Akron Open Series continues it's July run, the 3.0ers set the table with the biggest event to take place the Sunday of July 11th. Bar none. No questions asked.
The four entries, an Akron Open record (for lowest amount of entries, but still, it's a record!), braved the rain and the early Sunday start time in search of Akron glory, a glory that no one from Akron has probably ever achieved. But to achieve said glory, the four 3.0ers from four different 18+ league teams/houses (Towpath, Force, NCRC, and LaTuchie) - which also included TWO nationally ranked 3.0ers (because that's legit a thing now!), would have to run the gamut in a Round Robin format the likes of which the historical epic Game of Thrones taught us (we're pretty certain that's legit history) if they were to enjoy their version of the 3.0 thrown - one of the tiniest trophies in all the world!
Round 1
Travis d. Renier 6-2
Travis, paying homage to Johnny McEnroe (who he probably thinks is still active on the tour), wore the shortest white shorts he could find and the reddest head band he could muster to try and win the mental advantage needed if he were to take down Towpath's own hometown favorite Renier. Renier, enjoying home court advantage, started aggressively, with a series of strong forehands that kept Travis on his McEnroe-era NIKE heels. The short shorts, though, eventually seared themselves into Renier's vision so much that whether through confusion or disgust (most like disgust), Travis was able to take the set with the help of some of the whitest thighs known to man.
Benjamin d. Erik 7-5
On Court One, the highlight of the first round was no doubt the match between Benjamin and Erik, two hard hitting foes representing NCRC and LaTuchie, respectively. The representatives from the 18+ Flight 2 immediately went tennis toe-to-toe, hitting blistering forehands back and forth in a big-boy match the likes of which most 3.0ers can only dream of. Indeed, as the match wore on, Erik's huge kick serve kept his opposition back as he looked to take the lead. However, Benjamin, one of the most experienced 3.0 tournament players in recent 3.0 memory, was no stranger to the bright lights of the premier Court One (technically accurate as Court One was the closest to the club house where SOME people were watching some tournament event called "Wimbledon" on the huge new Towpath TV, meaning there were actually more lights shining on Court One, so...) and was able to use his vast tournament experience to not just get back in the match but to take the set in a 7-5 nailbiter.
Round 2
Erik d. Renier 6-1
It was a contrast of urban versus rural playing styles in Round 2 as LaTuchie's Erik, hailing from somewhere in the middle of Ohio, took on the big city Chicago style of Renier, hailing from somewhere in Illinois (perhaps ... Chicago?!). Ashland's favorite son (Ashland = Middle of Ohio) bounced back after a tough first round match with a solid performance, utilizing big serves and big forehands versus the versatile Renier. Renier, to his credit, warmed up as the match went on and brought out the best of his Chicago urban-city play, going toe-to-toe with the tallest 3.0er in the entire - entire! - tournament, but in the end Erik's rural Ohio play was able to counter Renier's big city game, giving Erik something he'll never forget - his first ever USTA tournament victory!
Travis d. Benjamin 7-5
Court One saw two of the most travelled and most veteran 3.0 tournament players of the last decade face off for the fourth time in their careers. Previously competitors (and also teammates, as it turned out), it was the NCRC captain who enjoyed the early psychological advantage, as Benjamin was ranked significantly higher than Travis via the USTA's fancy new Tournament Ranking system. AND HOW IT SHOWED! Benjamin, sporting a sleek new look and a fancy Federer-like headband, ran out to the early 3-0 lead, blistering his opponent off the court with a blistering serve and countering Travis' well-known serve and volley technique with pin-point forehands. Down 1-4, Travis did the only thing he could do - change into a new head band! And ... completely change his game to that of the dreaded pusher! Completely giving up on adult-style tennis, the former Akron Open champion reverted back to a style of tennis that hasn't been seen in the last two centuries as he sliced, diced, lobbed, bunted, and pushed his way back into the match. At 5-5, Benjamin then made a crucial mistake - he was ... nice. Travis, sweating through his racquet, complained that his racquet grip wasn't working (which we are sure explains his terrible tennis), and Benjamin, who rhymes with "gentleman," went out of his way to help his opponent, giving him a brand new overgrip. Travis, using his patent pending Three Ways To Victory (the new grip, the ability to play tennis like a three year old, and most importantly taking advantage of his opponent's generosity), was able to eek out the win while at the same time taking tennis well over 100 years back in time in terms of development.
Round 3
Benjamin d. Renier, 6-2
Though Benjamin had lost his Round 2 match, he was still in the running for the tournament title as the tie-breaker was total games won, so a win in Round 3 was necessary to give him the chance he needed to hoist the smallest trophy known to tennis. Renier, though, was just warming up, and the first few games went back-and-forth as Renier looked to ruin Benjamin's tournament hopes. Benjamin, though, learning his lesson from his previous match, refused to be nice (well, as nice ... he's still a really nice guy, but we're pretty certain he didn't hand out any more overgrips, though Travis, on the adjoining court, was certainly eyeing up anything else that looked promising in Benjamin's tennis bag) and took care of his 3.0 tennis business, continuing his parade of strong serves and forehands. When the 3.0 dust settled on Court 2, Renier put in a valiant effort in only his third ever tournament run while Benjamin, with a 2-1 record and 17 total games won, was still in the running Akron Open glory!
The Final Match and ALLLLLLLLL The Tie-Breakers
Thanks to the beauty that is 3.0 tennis, 75% of the field was still eligible to win the entire event as the final match took place on Court One. How's that? And what were the scenarios? Glad you asked!
- Champion = Travis ... If he won his final match he'd have the best record (3-0), all the head-to-head wins, and the most games won. That is, while Travis was 2-0, he had to win in order to take home a title no one at his home actually cared about. For, if he lost, that would mean he, Erik, and Benjamin would all be ... 2-1! The first tie-breaker was head-to-head matchup and the second would be total games won, and currently Benjamin was the leader with 17. Travis, with 13 was next with Erik in third at 11.
- Champion = Benjamin ... If you're still following this, kudos to you, but if Erik won by any score 6-3 or better, Benjamin would be declared champion (for he enjoyed the head-to-head advantage over Erik and would have 17 games won to Travis' potential 13, 14, 15, or 16). WHOA!
- Champion = Everyone! ... If Erik won 6-4, though, all three would have 17 games won, there would be no head-to-head advantage, and there would be a never before seen THREE WAY TIE! A 3.0 THREE WAY TOURNAMENT TIE!? Obviously, the assembled crowd (i.e., the poor tennis pro who was stuck watching this event) were rooting for that!
- Champion = Erik ... BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! If Erik won 7-5, that would give him the head-to-head over Travis and more games won (18) than Benjamin!
- Champion = Travis ... Wait, him again? Yes! If Travis lost 6-7 in a tie-breaker, he'd be declared the winner as he'd have the most games won (19)! WHOA! So many options! It's like the worst Choose Your Own Adventure novel ever!
Travis d. Erik, 7-6 (10)
Knowing all the scenarios (which is a slight exaggeration as no one knew exactly what was happening and even after reporting it we're not sure we got it all accurate), Erik and Travis faced-off on Court One. And just like his previous encounter on Court One, things got off to such a great* start that Travis asked the Towpath staff that he never play on Court One ever again. Immediately down 0-3 and then 1-4, it was like a mirror image of his previous match, only this time it was Erik's impressive kick serve that was causing the damage as it kicked nearly as high and as tall as ... The Great Scott Hovey! Erik then neutralized the serve and volley of his opponent with pinpoint, painting-the-line forehands, the likes of which haven't been seen on these courts since ... The Great Scott Hovey last played in this event! Unable to actually play real-life tennis, Travis once again took the sport back decades, if not centuries, and once again started to bore his opponent with slices and dices and moon balls the likes of which haven't been seen since, well, ever. The change in game plan seemed to work (can you really call it a "change" when it's just the way you actually "play?"), and Travis was able to get back in the match and actually take a lead at 5-4, meaning he was just one game away from sewing up the title!
Of course, being as clutch as he is, he promptly lost the potential match winning game at love and then immediately the next game as well, meaning he was not only about to lose the match but also the tournament. WHAT A SWING IN EMOTIONS!
At this point, though, Erik made, like Benjamin, a crucial mistake - being nice. Travis, the oldest person in the entire - entire! - tournament, started to cramp up at that crucial moment, and Erik, the nice guy that he is, gave his opponent all the time necessary to not just stretch out the cramp, but to refuel and rehydrate as well (Benjamin, no doubt, could only be shaking his head at this costly move of generosity). Refueled, rehydrated, and ready to go, Travis not only won the next game to force the tie-break, but (unknowingly to Erik and Travis, as it turned out), win the event as well. Once again, Travis' combination of lack-of-skill, the generosity of his opponents, and some really loud and garish outfits proved to be the difference!
When all was said and done, the group commisserated, discussing the tournament, the tie-breakers, their play, their combined love of Scott Hovey (it's true Scott, we do!), while watching some lesser known grass tournament wrapping up. Travis finished off his personal tournament experience by continuing to do what he had done all tournament long - mooch off of his fellow tournament participants by helping himself to all of Erik's beverages. Erik and Benjamin, to their credit, decided then and there to join forces to participate in the Akron Open Doubles event later in July. Later, it was found that Renier will also be in the event, meaning the four best 3.0ers in this year's tournament will all be back. ALL OF THEM!
Quite literally the biggest tennis trophy known to the 3.0 world.
Final Results
Travis 3-0, 20 games won
Benjamin 2-1, 18 games won
Erik 1-2, 17 games won
Renier 0-3
Fun Facts
- Benjamin earned tournament victory #10 with his runner-up finish, giving him three Vice-Championships in his last three events!
- Travis earned tournament victory #31 en route to his sixth 3.0 singles title, giving him 88 career 3.0 victories, which is kind of awesome but more ... sad.
- Erik cracked the 3.0 seal to get his first ever official 3.0 tournament victory. You'll always remember your first, Erik!
- Renier, in his third tournament event, enjoyed his eighth career tournament match!
Wow. Usually I don't read anything I wasn't involved in but glad I did!