Tuesday matches....COMPLETED!!!

WOOHOO!  Save for a small delay this afternoon because of rain, all matches were completed.  Again, a big thank you to Karen Heckman for rearranging all the rain delayed matches from Monday!  Lets hope for no more rain delays.  Please...we beg you.  Do NOT wash your cars nor order water delivery!  :)

Making up matches from Monday, play started early this morning at the Club.   Anton Kuipers beat a determined Stan Vanasse 6-4, 6-4.  I hear Anton might reconsider wearing all black in the morning. 

Carl Mascheur later took on Larry Morris.  I heard Carl played a crafty and smart game today, taking the match 6-1, 6-2. 

This afternoon, Russell Armstrong played a FIERCE game and defeated Monty Mrotz 6-3, 6-0.  Monty said it was a pleasure to lose to such a nice junior player and said he learned something about his game in play young Russell.  Great words by Monty and congrats to Russell!

Depak Bansal and Chuck Butcher completed the make-up schedule this evening.  With newcomer Depak playing a baseline game gained by his recent lessons (which shows!) and shades of tennis from years past with a chip and charge game by Chuck, this was a fun match to watch.  First set goes to a tiebraker...finally winning the tiebrake 11-9, was Depak!  Depak continued his run and takes the second set at 6-3.  Great to see Chuck back on the court.  With his lively demeanor and fun attitude, we hope to see more of him on the court!

Beginning on the Tuesday schedule was Carl Beckstedt who took on a challenge by Lisle Brathwaite.  BIG serves by Lisle, BIG returns by Carl...a very entertaining match was played out on Court 1.  BIG serves by Lisle...the first set was taken to 4-4 all.  Capitalizing on a break, Carl takes the set 6-4.  Although he won the second set by 6-0, the play was much more even then the score indicates.  Carl was heard saying after the match, "Those serves did not miss by much!  When those start coming in...BEWARE!"  Uhm....did someone say BIG serves?  ;)

Making her St. Croix tennis singles debut was Pam Morris having to play her doubles partner, Adrienne Seward!  Now talk about uncomfortable, right?!  Consistant play by Pam, she takes the match 6-2, 6-3.  Now we next get to see them again later as a team!

Shelby Cruz took on a very spirited and solid back court backboard game in Joanie Kupfer.  With big serves and big returns, Shelby saw ball after ball come back, wearing down many a point.  Tiebrake in the first set to Shelby.  Way to go Joanie!  Joanie says she lost her service motion and Shelby found her solid down the line game...and Shelby takes the match with a second set score of 6-0. 

Gabrielle Armstrong met up with Merlice Charles.  Again...congrats to Merlice in taking part in her first ever tournament and bringing a nice cheering squad to watch!  Gabrielle takes the first set 6-1 and was on her way to a duplicate score, but Merlice had a great service game to hold.  I say this because most newcomers would have simply folded under the pressure, but she played aggressively and it paid off.  Gabrielle holds with some big serves of her own and takes the final set 6-2.  Nice win Gabs!  These two were as gracious, smiling, and polite...love to see it! 

Seems everytime you turn around there is Alec Kuipers.  Facing him today was Phil Holzman.  Ever smiling and ever pleasant, Phil played hard but that little feisty Alec was everywhere.  6-0, 6-0 to Alec...and Phil still smiling says he enjoyed playing young Alec!

Unfortunately two withdrawals were made today.  Lee Rohn withdrew from the event with a rib injury.  We hope to see her back in the doubles by the end of the week!

If any of you HEARD, and I am sure you did...I coughed up near a lung in my final on Sunday afternoon.  With doubles ahead of me and not wanting to let my partner, Jay Craft down, I withdrew due to illness.  Robby Stamper says I was just "skeered" of him.  But we all know Robby is an idiot.  I am coming after you Robby in doubles.  Just saying...