RTC Clean Sweep In Premier League
It was great night of tennis when the RTC played their first Premier Division home game against Cambridge. Even though Nick Wood and Ben Matthews were playing near the top of their form, Cambridge had the nigh-unbeatable eight-time world champion Rob Fahey at number one, so we knew from the start that it was going to be a tough fight for points.
Ben Matthews opened proceedings in front of a full house – every ticket had been sold – in the opening singles against Mark Hobbs. Leading 2/1 in the first set it looked as though Ben had the beatings of Hobbs but then some strange errors gave Hobbs the fourth game to love and it was tied 2/2. Hobbs won the next game to go 3/2 up. In the sixth game Hobbs set chases of first gallery and 3 yards and from the hazard end Ben showed that he meant business beating both chases and then winning the game with a stylish force to tie the set 3/3. He did the same thing in the seventh game winning game point with another force to stress the advantage of home court. But Hobbs would not lie down and the eighth game was a real tussle with Ben finally getting to serve with two weak chases, last gallery and second gallery and although he saved the first chase with a fine serve, two errors in the succeeding rallies put Hobbs at game point. He whacked the next serve into the net to force the first deuce, and won the next point with a force to again stand at game point. Ben saved it with beautiful low cross-court backhand to force the second deuce. Ben hit the grille to take advantage but Hobbs countered with another force bringing about the third deuce.
Ben again had the advantage with another great low cross but was thwarted when Hobbs hit a winner to force the fourth deuce. Ben remained focused, went ahead with a drive to the grille and then finally took the game with an unreturnable volley. At 5/3 it finally appeared that Ben was on his way, but Hobbs took the next game as Ben twice drove serves into the net. At 5/4 it appeared there would be a lot of nail biting but Ben took control of the tenth game from the started and went on to win to take the first set 6/4.
Hobbs took the first game of the second set after three deuces to show the vocal RTC supporters that he was far from finished and then exchanged games up to 3/3. This, we thought, was going to be a long night. Ben took the next two games in short order to lead 5/3 and Hobbs put up a huge fight in trying to save the set with four deuces. Ben will remember that he had match ball after three deuces and served a double fault to force a fourth deuce but atoned for that with a drive to the winning gallery to reach match ball again and Hobbs kindly put the ball into the net to end the set 6/3 and put the RTC one up.
The temperature rose somewhat as Nick Wood and Rob Fahey knocked up. Nick is playing exceptionally well: in the French Open two weeks earlier he had match ball against Camden Riviere in the semis – and missed the dedans by an inch. Riviere recovered to win the match but then lost quickly in three to Fahey in the final.
Nick started off positively, moving faster than you could think possible. His reactions were fast enough to return the nastiest of bounces and spins. He won the first game after two deuces but Fahey took the second game. The third game showed Nick going for his shots with confidence and he won the first point with three forces before inducing an error from Fahey. His forcing off the main wall had Fahey in trouble and Nick was 2/1 up. The fourth game got down to some really wonderful tennis with Wood setting chases on the first two rallies – nearly a yard worse and second gallery. Fahey won the first chase but Nick found the grille to save the second and then hit the grille again to go 30/15 up. Fahey found the net with his return of service and Nick led 40/15. Fahey won the next two points to force the first deuce and Nick, caught napping by a cannon-like drive was forced to hit the ball through his legs – straight into the grille: prolonged laughter and applause. Right there Fahey must have realized that it wasn’t his day.
There was another deuce but Nick hit the winning gallery again with ease to take the game and lead 3/1.
This report is already too long and as much as I would like to continue the blow-by-blow (I have all my notes!) I can report that Nick’s shots were all working while Fahey, who can normally hit the grille with his eyes shut, could find neither the grille or the dedans and frustration started to show. Nick’s backhand cuts from the hazard end were wicked in their speed and accuracy and this certainly helped him on his way to a 6/3 first set victory.
The second set was completely different. It appeared as though Fahey decided to move up a gear and from the first rally, he dominated. He hit a few more grilles and found the dedans, but many of his forces were an inch off, rocketing off the bandeau to give up a bad chase. He still won the set 6/1 to get the nail-biting going again.
However this was to be Nick’s night and the constant roars of encouragement played their part (he said later) in helping him to perform so well. He took the third set by the scruff of the neck grabbing the lead in the first game with another wonderful force and kept up the pressure, winning that game, continuing on into the second game, coming back from 15/40 down to win that as well, rushing through the third game to win to 15 and proceeded to win the next to lead 4/0.
The supporters got noisier and happier and, it appeared, Fahey got redder in the face with suggestions that he was tiring. He won the fifth game after setting a fine chase of 2 yards, but although he fought hard in sixth game to get to game ball Nick forced the deuce, set two less than sparkling chases (last gallery and better than second gallery) but still managed to get take the advantage and eventually win the game.
Fahey again picked up his game to go 40/0 up and although Nick took the next two points he found the net to give Fahey the game.
Now 5/2: was this the Fahey comeback? The tension was high. Nick took the first point:15/0. Fahey hit two grilles in a row 15/30. (No more nails to bite.) Nick set a chase of 2 and then worse than second gallery. All change. Fahey failed to beat the first chase: 30/30. Nick won the next point: 40/30, match ball. We all tried not to breath. A rapid exchange of shots, Nick got his rack on the ball which spiraled high in the air and came down into the grille: a spectacular finish to a historic victory. Nick had won it 6/2 and beaten the world champion. Five minutes of prolonged applause and bloody well deserved too.
It was no surprise that Nick and Ben, their confidence sky-high, would win the doubles which they did with an 8/3 scoreline. A great evening at the club and when word gets around, the tickets for the next home game should go in minutes.
Martin Bronstein
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