What is it about this annual event that brings out the fun...the friends...the beautiful weather...and the ROWDIES out ever year at this tennis event! Tonight...the energy was electric with great matches and great times at the Club! 
First off...kudos to Sherry Mansfield and yet another great inexpensive meal for spectators to enjoy. Her pasta bake was a huge hit and was a sell out. Can hardly wait for Friday night's LASAGNA NIGHT!
First off on Court 1 was the team of Robbie Stamper and Bill Bowles taking on the impromptu team of Nayan Bansal and Bob Guilford, who replaces Nayan's father Deepak, who abandoned his son at the eleventh hour. Someone please call Child Protective Services. With his lovely mother, Vivianna, in attendance a great match ensued. Robbie and Bill put up a great first set but end up losing in a tiebreak. Nayan and Bob take charge in the second set with as dramatic a final two points we have ever seen with Bob taking a tumble on the court and Nayan taking charge while his partner writhed in pain on the court, to take the match. Nayan and Bob advance with a 7-6, 6-1 win! Big thank you to Bob for picking up the match and allowing Nyan to play...great thanks to you!
Court 2 showdown were the Wednesday night Bumblebees Larry Morris and Stan/Carl/whatever Vanesse taking on Monty Mrotz and Morris Anselmi. Riding high on their win from the night before, Larry and Stan played super aggressive (killer bees!), with Larry dare I say..."swarming" all over the net. They take the match 6-0, 6-2. Killer bees prevail...but we understand their next opponents are "Team RAID!"
Court 3 faced Joan Warren with the enthusiastic Cindy Clearwater. Joan won the match 6-0, 6-0...the score was not indicative of a blow out by any means. Many deuces ensued...but the more experienced Joan prevailed on the big points. Great job by Cindy for entering her first big tournament and having a blast and being positive through this whole event!
Court 4 had Michael Armendariz and Carl Maschauer taking on Donovan Hamm and John Warren. Now...Joan Warren had called Michael and pleaded with him to, "PLEASE don't hurt my husband!" Well Michael and Carl wanted to have a urine sample taken on John because he stormed the net like a young man possessed. Celebrating his birthday just the night before, Michael and Carl were temporarily caught off guard but composed their selves to blow out John's candles a second time. Great to see a return to the court from Donovan Hamm and his great lefty game. In a very fun match, Michael and Carl prevail 6-2, 6-1.
The US OPEN is well known for having amazing late night tennis matches every year. Well...New York has NOTHING on St. Croix! Three late night matches were scheduled and the players did NOT fail in their attempts to keep the crowd entertained.
In a rematch of last year, Alex Elizee wore out Carlos Rosas, 6-3, 6-2. Running here and there, back and forth, to and fro...his movement was cat-like (much like Jay Craft *). Carlos is know for his wheels as well but Alex was just too good.
Greeba Richmond and Natalie Nelson battled it out in Women's Singles...and what a battle it was. Play started on time at 6:45 and ended after 10pm! Greeba takes the first set, Natalie the second with Greeba finally prevailing in the third! Natalie ran down ball after ball...Greeba and her compact strokes going crosscourt to crosscourt. The last crosscourt finally did Natalie in. What a great match and very entertaining to watch! Congrats Greeba!
Trying to defend their title, Kurt Buska and Kris Elien took on the hot playing pair of Alexis Camarena and Junior Bannis. On a continued high from their drumming of Jay and Steve earlier, Junior and Alexis came out swinging. But...they were swinging against Kris. Try they did, but Kurt and Kris take the first set 6-0. A mini comeback ensues but they fall short and Kris and Kurt take the match with a 7-5 win in the second set. Great match guys!
Now. The match of the night. The loudest match of the night. The most tempestuous match of the night. Joel Mahepath and Melbourne Adams took on Big Al Richards and Stan Myrie G. A great match of crosscourt returns, drop shot, slices, dices, overheads...and lots and lot of groans. And whining. At one point Stan yelled so loud he lost his last name. And the whining? Well...never mind. All kidding aside, this was the match of the night with the match going the distance to a third set tiebreak. High quality play with three of these four players being in the finals just last year. The match ended...at 11:05PM. That's right...US OPEN has nothing on Tennis Club of St. Croix! The crowd was vocal in their support of the good and exciting play that they watched.
MAKE SURE AND COME OUT FRIDAY NIGHT!
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