Since the start of practice last week we have been focusing on doubles. The 9-point system really places a huge emphasis on doubles. A strong doubles team can go up 3-0 in pretty quick order. Fortunately for us that is exactly what we did. At #1 Matt Solomon/Jeffrey Tolman were down a break for most the entire match but broke serve at 7-8 forcing a tie-break. They saved their best for last, stringing together first serves and returns to take the breaker 7-4. At #2 doubles Christoph Fuchs/Quin Miller realized how much fun Matt/Jeff were having and decided that they too would win in a breaker. Our senior #3 team of Jake Cappel/Jasper Follows decided to take pity on a poor stressed out coach (me) and post a solid 8-4 victory.
All the singles matches were about as tight as they could be. Jeffrey (#2) had his trial by fire losing 6-1, 6-3. Not his best match, but the first one is always rough and I'm sure he is glad to have it behind him. At #3 Chris Bailey worked hard and put up a battle but in the end lost 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Christoph has been playing great tennis the past couple weeks and he had wonderful win at #4 2-6, 6-1, 6-3. It was so gratifying to see him bounce back after a quick first set to take the next two sets.
Match score at this point is 4-1 and Matt Solomon is in a 3rd set battle at #1 singles. Things looked pretty bleak midway through the third as Matt gets broken to go down 3-4 AND his hand and arm are cramping. Now he is down a break, can't hold his racket and is struggling a bit with his movement. Matt showed great fortitude after a short trainer break. Instead of playing long grueling baseline points, Matt starts taking chances and shortening the points. Not sure if was the fact that Matt changed his game plan, started hitting a bit bigger or his opponent had a let down. But Matt ends up winning three straight games to win 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 AND seal the team win. What a great way for Matt to start off the year.
Our other seniors didn't fare quite so well. Nadeem came back from 5-7, 1-5 to win the second set but eventually lost 10-7 in the match breaker. At #6 Jake was cruising along winning the 1st set 6-4 and was up a break 3-0 when Matt clinched the team match. At that point Jake had a let down and ended up losing 4-6, 6-4, 14-12.
Real proud of the effort and maturity of the team tonight. Very good win to start off the year. Tomorrow we take on #1 ranked (and defending National Champions) UC Santa Cruz at 6pm.
Whitman 5 LCSC 4
Doubles
#1 Matt Solomon/Jeff Tolman def Ivan Krijanto/Zhai Hwa Chong 9-8
#2 Quin Miller/Christoph Fuchs def Ben Robert/Cesar Uauy 9-8
#3 Jasper Follows/Jake Cappel def Jeff Lowndes/Tyler Oram 8-4
Singles
#1 Matt Solomon def Zhia Hwa Chong 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
#2 Jeffrey Tolman lost Ivan Krijanio 6-1, 6-3
#3 Chris Bailey lost Ben Robert 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
#4 Christoph Fuchs def Oliver Sindayigaya 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
#5 Nadeem Kassam lost Arslan Mermut 6-4, 6-7, 10-7
#6 Jake Cappel lost Cesar Uauy 4-6, 6-4, 14-12
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