Here at D.F.O., we're going to try something new for the new year! Rather than randomly posting our amazing 3.0 thoughts, we're going to attempt (key word there ... attempt!) to post monthly reviews of all the big happenings in the 3.0 world. And by "world" we mean Ohio!
So what happened in January? As it turns out, quite a bit! From finalizing the fall team titles to raising some tourney trophies, we've got you covered ... if what you want covered is 3.0 tennis info!
Playoff Play
CSC Takes Fusion Doubles Championship in Style!
During the second week of January, CSC travelled to Medical Mutual as the home side, Captain Ashley's 9-1 regular season squad, looked to have the home-court advantage! Especially considering the #2 seed, CSC, had to fight and claw their way out of their flight just to make the playoffs! But make the playoffs they did (despite being tied with two other clubs with 6-4 win-loss records!), and after a narrow 2-1 win over NCRC in the first round of the playoffs waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2024 (oh what a year that was, eh?!), Captain Karen's crew were battle tested and ready to rumble!
Or play tennis.
AND PLAY TENNIS THEY DID! Unsurprisingly, MM led off with one of the stars of 2024, the 2024 Doubles Player of the Year Ben and his partner, a 2024 D.F.O. Doubles Team of the Year nominee Steven, while CSC countered with Leo and Sanjay, two underdogs who had a combined four wins between them! But these 3.0 tennis dogs had much more bite than bark, and they shocked the 3.0 world by taking the first set to give CSC a shocking early advantage! But Ben and Steven, with nine wins between them on the season, wouldn't go down without a 3.0 tennis fight, and fight they did to a convincing second set victory, meaning this opening match would end in a THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK! In the tiebreak, the emotion of the previous year (with all the end of season award parties and what not) surely got to Ben and Steven, and in the end, it was the kids from CSC that not only took the third set, but the opening match as well!
On court two, Captain Ashley got Med Mutual back on track with a straight set victory, but it was CSC's mixed court that was able to take down double-digit winner Doug in another THIRD SET SUPER TIEBREAK to earn CSC it's first ever Fusion Doubles Championship in dramatic underdog status!
Paramount Medina Wins First Ever Championship!
In the first ever season of One-Singles, nine teams went at it for history - to be the first ever One-Singles Champion! In the end, Paramount Medina won both the Flight and the Playoffs to take home a well-deserved first ever One-Singles title ... that also happened to be Paramount Medina's first ever District title of any-3.0-kind! Enjoying an undefeated run that saw their team drop but 19 games in eight matches (!), this team - and they truly were a team as their roster consisted of five players! - also enjoyed an undefeated playoff run as Captain Dustin called upon his own number one final time in the final - as he had been promoted to 3.5 thanks to a stellar 2024 season - to seal the championship deal against a lively Scott from MVRC, a player with 50+ career wins to his 3.0 name! In the end, though, it was the lively group from Paramount Medina that not only won the first ever One-Singles title but also won the storied Paramount Medina it's first ever title title of any 3.0 kind! Way to make history, gents!
Tournament Play
Towpath We Love Doubles Championships!
On the same weekend the playoffs were taking place, so to was the opening 3.0 event of the 3.0 tournament season, the annual Towpath We Love Doubles tournament took place!
Ashish and Sanket, last year's vice-champions at the late spring Towpath Doubles event, falling 4-6 to eventual title-holders Ram and Sumit, were the favorites coming into this event with last year's We Love Champions, Kishore and Sayyad deciding not to participate (probably because they weren't eligible due to their nigh-professional 3.5 status!). That being said, they'd have to get past tournament veterans Matthew and David, last year's runners-up, as well as playoff tested 3.0 veterans Anthony and Ado!
Turns out it was easy to get past Matthew and David as both forgot to show up. Still, a win's a win!
But the early match versus Force's Anthony and Ado would turn out to be the tournament decider! Anthony, playing in his first ever tournament, brought his all-3.0-time tying playoff wins (19) to the match while Ado, he of 70+ career 3.0 wins, brough much needed experience! Together these two titans of the tennis courts pushed Ashish and Sanket to the limit, eventually holding two match points against them! But with everything on the line - and the fact it was an 8am start which makes it pretty difficult for Night Owl Anthony to operate - Ashish and Sanket fought off the match points to eventually take the match 7-5!
Dropping only five more games in their next four more matches sealed the deal for Ashish and Sanket as they took home the title to show they really do love doubles!
League Play
Ohio Valley - 2025 Fall ... or Winter? Maybe Spring??
West Virginia 40+
In some kind of odd bizarro world, Ohio Valley plays their 2025 Fall Season during ... 2024. Huh.
Be that as it may, congratulations to Captain JL's YMCA team for taking the 40+ Flight in West Virginia to the tune of an undefeated 6-0 mark! Led by 2024 Hall of 3.0 Famer L Cochran and tournament tested 5-1 Geoffrey, this team will once again represent West Va. in the 3.0 playoffs ... probably in 2025?!
Dayton 18+
Not to be outdone, Dayton, also part of Ohio Valley (but actually in Ohio) also held a fall league during the fall ... but started their 2025 season in 2024. Huh.
But what a season it turned out to be as, with seven teams, this league came down to the final week! Despite two mid-season losses, Five Season won four straight to put the pressure on perennial power Quail Run and perennial all-star captain, Captain John! In a winner take-all match, the two met on the final day of the season - January 11th - and thanks to some home-cooking, the home-team enjoyed a 3-2 victory as Five Season Captain Alan enjoyed his first ever Flight Championship!
Winter/Spring 18+
Dayton and NEO have - or are about to - begin their next seasons ... all taking place in 2025!
In Dayton, it's the Winter League, and Captain John's Quail Run are off to a fast start, though Captain Alan's Five Season are right behind in what looks to be another 3.0 barn-burner!
In NEO, it's the Spring League, Captain John of Paramount Westlake looks to repeat his Spring Championship, but he'll have to get past a tough Flight, not to mention consistent 3.0 powerhouses like Captain Frank's Towpath and the rising club that is MVRC!
February Events
As mentioned above, league play will start up in both Ohio Valley and NEO. Meanwhile, the biggest tournament of the year, the Midwest NTRP Section Championships 18+, will be held at the posh CVAC, where the best of the Midwest 3.0 best will ply their 3.0 trade for a chance at a no-expenses paid trip to Orlando, Florida! In singles, 14 players are signed up so far, including three from Michigan! Will Tony, NWO's top singles player, make a dent? Or will Jason, he of the one-handed backhand, make a deep run? Or, like last year, will a Michigander take home the title yet again? And in doubles, will Ram repeat his title from last season? Good luck to all ... and check out the updated 3.0 all-3.0-time stats ... here!
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