On day two of the NTRP Sectional Championships, upsets abound as the top two singles seeds were bounced at the start of the day while the end of the day concluded with a new 3.0 doubles champion!
Singles
Roger d. Doug, 4-2, 4-2
Leading of the 3.0 singles action, #1 seed Doug took on Roger while fellow top seed, #2 Travis took on Casey. And owing to the marquee status of these matches, both were put on the grandstand courts of the back no-stands courts (most likely for easier television broadcasting!). Roger, a tournament tested 3.0 singles veteran, brought his well-known back-court, counter-puncher style to court eight, while Doug, one of the premier 3.0 doubles players in the area and the nation as he finished Vice-Champion in doubles just a few years ago brought loads of valuable experience. On this day, however, Roger's precision strokes and his wall-like-defense stymied the the National NTRP 3.0 Doubles Vice-Champion, and Roger emerged victorious to go 2-0 in the tournament and advance to take on Patrick later in the day. Meanwhile, despite the defeat, Doug still had a chance to make the rare double singles/doubles double trip (is that a triple double?) to Nationals if he could advance past a fellow doubles star, Benjamin
Casey d. Travis, 1-4, 4-2, 4-2 (2)
Travis, illustrating the perfect* open-faced shot pattern that helps explain his 3.0 status.
On the neighboring court seven, #2 seed Travis took on Michigander Casey in a repeat of a face off that took place the previous day when Casey demolished Travis in 3.0 doubles. Perhaps inspired by his crushing defeat the day prior, Travis came out hot, putting Casey's hard hitting ways on his heels as he serve and volleyed his way to a first set victory. Casey, though, soon adjusted (i.e., saw that Travis has not forehand or serve which, when you think about it, are two pretty impressive limitations), and blasted his way past the so-called #1 seed to easily take the second set. Thus, with the entire match coming down to the third set, Casey came out firing first, running off to a 3-1 advantage before Travis, kamikaze style, rushed the net at every chance, on offense and defense, sometimes with a racquet and sometimes without. Perhaps taken aback by this offensive (in both meanings of the word) play, Casey stumbled a bit and the match went to a deciding third set tiebreak. Tied at 2-2, Casey won not one but two fantastic points, showing the hustle that, when combined with his power, is making him a name in the world of 3.0 tennis (which isn't a big a world, but it's a world, kind of like Pluto is a world). With his hustle and his trademark power, Casey won the tiebreaker and thus the match to, like Roger, go 2-0 in the tournament. Travis, meanwhile, consoled with Doug as both top seeds were left to wonder exactly what seeding means anyway.
Casey d. Brandon, 4-1, 4-1
Later that afternoon, Casey took on Brandon, who had defeated Alfred the day before. Brandon put on a heroic effort, but the power and blistering serve of Casey proved to, once again be the difference, and at 3-0, the Michigan native had advanced to his first ever singles final. Brandon, meanwhile, had nothing to be ashamed of, as he had evened his record at a solid 1-1 and had made it to the semi-finals in one the biggest 3.0 tournaments in all of Chagrin!
Patrick d. Roger, 4-0, 4-2
Casey's doubles partner and fellow Michigander Patrick was also in the semi-finals, taking on 2-0 Roger who had beaten the odds by beating the #1 seed to advance thus far. Roger's brick wall defense took on Patrick's 12' tall power and on this day of contrasting styles, it was offensive that won the day, and with it, Patrick gained a trip to the singles finals! Roger, though, continued to build on his reputation as one of the finest singles players around, and with his 2-1 record, looks like he'll be a force to be reckoned with come tournament and league time!
Consolation Singles
Travis d. Josef, 4-3 (2), 4-3 (3)
Josef bringing the power while Travis brings the 2" vertical.
In the consolation matches, Travis and Josef took the lead in playing for, well, pride. Josef, with his big forehand, got off to the early lead, but Travis worked his way back into the match with his trademark "I have nothing going for me so I'm going to attack the net" serve and volley to take the first set in a close tiebreak. It was more of the same in the second, as Josef's legitimate strokes took on Travis' punches, pushes, and blocks. On this day, Brad Gilbert, author of Winning Ugly would be proud, because ugly won the day as Travis (that's kind of a mean sentence for poor Travis), ugly'd his way to his first victory of 2021. Josef, though, could take solace in the fact that he will someday actually be a good tennis player, which, in the grand scheme of things, is probably the bigger win!
Benjamin d. Doug, 3-4 (4), 4-3 (4), 4-3 (3)
Benjamin and Doug, power for power!
The second consolation match saw two of the biggest doubles titans the area knows face off on the singles courts with both bringing their big shots to the big game. Both big ball hitters banged away from the baseline, trying to overpower their opponent with deeply placed shots that would put their rival on the defensive. Back and forth this one went, and the crowd was in for a 3.0 treat as this 78' figurative boxing match went the distance! Doug drew first tennis blood, taking the first set by just a point! But in the second, Benjamin rallied back, to do the same, also by just a point! WOWSERS! Nary player was willing to give an inch, and thus, fittingly, the match was decided in yet ANOTHER tiebreak! Huge play after huge play took play, Benjamin hitting big forehands while Doug countered with big backhands. In the end, the singles experience of Benjamin may have made the difference, for, by just two points, he emerged the victor. But the really winners were the countless (because we can't count) 3.0 fans in the stands who were able to witness these two tennis warriors battle it out as the Ancient Greeks no doubt intended - with three fuzzy yellow tennis balls!
Doubles
Casey and Patrick d. Chad and Jansen, 4-1, 4-1, 1-4
In doubles, the championship match was between two teams of power hitters, one from Michigan - Casey and Patrick - and one from southern Ohio - Chad and Jansen. Wolverines versus Buckeyes! Blue state versus Red state! FOR ALL THE TENNIS MARBLES (although not really as both teams actually qualified to the national event as they were the top two finishers, but hey, this is 3.0 tennis we're talking about, so most of us would actually play for marbles if they were offered). Both teams came out tentative in the finals, but Chad and Jansen composed themselves to take an early first set lead. Casey and Patrick, however, were perhaps nervous because the next day they would have to play in the singles finals against one another, which no doubt would cause a strain on their friendship. OR WOULD IT?! Nay, it would not! After a slow start, the tandem warmed up, and once Casey's serve warmed up there was little that could cool it down, and from that point forward, Casey's serves and Patrick's 13' of height at the net proved the difference as they won the next two sets and with them, the championship!
Congratulations to Casey and Patrick on their 3-0 championship 3.0 run and good luck at Nationals in April! And congratulations as well to Vice-Champions Chad and Jansen, who by virtue of their runner-up status ALSO qualified to Nationals. Could a rematch be in the making? Ali v. Frazier? Bird v. Magic? Casey and Patrick v. Chad and Jansen?! STAY TUNED!
Roger and Travis d. Aaron and Troy, 4-1, 4-1
Befitting of 3.0 tennis, the 3rd Place match took place after the championship match because, hey, we all know what people want to see! With pride on the line, Roger and Travis, who had played well against Chad and Jansen, took on Aaron and Troy, who had pushed Casey and Patrick to the limit. In a classic doubles match where precision was valued over power, Roger's net play was on target while Travis, who up to this point had been doing everything he could to prove to Roger that Roger should never team up with Travis again, finally started acting like he could serve the ball. With their new found confidence, Roger and Travis were able to get the win versus the all-out hustle of Aaron and Troy, showing that for some in the audience (i.e., there was no one), pride can be best spelled "three point oh."
Former 3.0ers
Congratulations to former 3.0ers Sanjay and H. Michael who both not only advanced in their 3.5 bracket but are also set to face off against one another in the championship match! WHOA! The 3.0 tennis world is immensely proud of these 3.0 graduates and wish them both luck Sunday! Speaking of ...
Sundays Lineup
- Casey v. Patrick in the 3.0 singles finals ... teammates and now enemies!
- Benjamin v. Brian in consolation 3.0 singles ...
- Alfred v. Walkover in consolation 3.0 singles ... because Travis quit and took his tennis balls home (and is double booked as he's playing in Akron)
- The winner of Benjamin v. Brian v. Alfred for the 3.0 consolation championship!
Absolutely love the write ups Travis! After reading them I think I may actually have enjoyed this tournament, wasn’t sure until now. Thanks for all the effort you put into it, it’s appreciated and noticed.