The first event of the 3.0 season is here - the Towpath Doubles Championships - and is now gone! Taking place Friday and Saturday, it was no doubt the most anticipated weekend event in Northeast Ohio ... EVER!
And one thing is guaranteed - there was sure to be a new winner!
OR WAS THERE?!
Read on to find out why ... and who the favorites for the 2024 event!
Last year's event, won by Kishore and Predeep, saw three 3-1 teams in a no-holds-barred 3.0 event for the ages! But thanks to promotion to 3.5, none of the top three teams are playing in this event, meaning there's going to be a brand new champ!
OR WILL THERE?!
Because two former champs are back, albeit with new partners, meaning this rendition of the Towpath Doubles Championships is going to be ... something!
So read below - or click on the links below - to learn just what that something turned out to be!
The Bracket
The Preview
Complete with newbies and tournament tested veterans, this event is sure to be a wild one! At the top of the bracket, Zhigang and Lance enjoy the first round bye but will have to face off against veteran Matthew or Jason's team in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the bottom of the bracket is chock full of 3.0 stars, from last year's champ Kishore - though with a new partner in Sayyad - taking on Towpath legend John, back from his foray in the nigh-professional 3.5 leagues the past few seasons! Meanwhile two-time tournament champion William, also a 2022 Towpath Doubles Champ, looks to become only the third 3.0er ever to have three doubles championships to his name if he and partner William can nail down the event victory!
The Results - The Championship Bracket
WOW! Round one highlights included Towpath legend William Fox earning another big tournament win while returning champ Kishore punched his ticket to the semi's thanks to a strong showing versus a former Akron Open singles champion in John! In the semi's, Matthew and David were able to overcome the fatigue of two matches in one evening to take out Zhigang and Lance while in the match of the evening, two former Towpath Doubles champions went tit-for-tennis-tat with last year's title holder earning another trip back to the finals! In said finals, despite an opening salvo from Matthew and David, the championship experience of Kishore paid off, and thanks to said experience, Kishore and Sayyad won the day, helping Kishore become the only 3.0er to ever repeat a Towpath Doubles title!
The Results - The Consolation Bracket
In the consolation bracket, Zhingang and Lance got off the open schneid to win a close one versus Jason and Chris while Patrick and John won an even closer one in which but two points was the difference versus Jeff and Tom! Another close match ensued, and once again, veteran finals experience paid off as John and Patrick, in a THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAKER, won the day!
Congratulations to each and all on a great 3.0 event!
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