It’s Summer 2010 and thirty-two sporting competitors are battling through a group stage, then knockout rounds, to win one of sport’s most sought after prizes … not the football World Cup, but the 2010 King’s Goblet Summer Doubles.

Where the football World Cup had controversy and talking points, we had one player accidentally passing through to the Hazard side before the incoming servers had passed through (unbelievable, I know!).

Where the football World Cup had a Group of Death with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast battling against each other, we had regular playing partners Tim Church, Nicola Doble, Simon Edmond and Owen Saunders pitted together.

Where the football World Cup had former champions France never get into their stride and then descend into a nightmare of recrimination and soul searching, we had … Nick and Tom Carew Hunt.

One key difference was that the English won this one, as Kate Lawrence and John Priestland defied the summer heat to emerge triumphant, making full use in the final of the handicap allowance against David Blizzard and Peter Mather to win 10/6.

Group Stage

Received wisdom is that the key factors in doubles are a) experience in doubles b) an evenly matched pairing and c) an appreciation that a terrible shot over the net is better than a brilliant one that goes into the net.

On this basis the pre-tournament favourites were generally agreed to be Oliver Buckley and John East, Nick and Tom Carew Hunt, and Nicola Doble and Simon Mansfield.

Oliver and John set the early pace on day one, blowing away the competition by winning 36 games and conceding only 11, generating a ‘goal difference’ of +25 games. This was remarkable given that the next best goal difference in the group stages was +12.

The highlight of Group 1 was Oliver and John taking on Richard East and Adam Lawrence, as brother fought against brother in a no holds barred contest. The result was a resounding 11/5 victory to Oliver and John, a result that will surely be brought up at key moments in East family get-togethers for many months to come.

The crucial game in Group 1 turned out to be Victoria Carew Hunt and Terry Marsh against Richard and Adam, with Victoria and Terry victorious as Terry used his ‘crouching tiger’ serve to great effect. This secured them a place in the knockout stages.

Group 2 turned out to be the tightest of the groups, with doubles expert Keith Smith pairing up with Dan Callaghan and pulling out his chopped drag serve at crucial points to bring victory and top place in the Group.

In Group 3, Peter Mather excelled throughout, taking a fearless position up at the galleries and letting very little get past him. His high standard of play was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he played most of the time with his shorts nearer his ankles than his waist, his fetching turquoise briefs on full display – which I am reliably informed is à la mode nowadays. With Peter playing up, David Blizzard ran the back and gave another of his masterclasses in accurate volleying.

The Carew Hunts never got into their stride, with frustration eventually getting the better of them as they seemed to target the stronger opponents rather than the weaker ones and repeatedly overhit. It was a strangely lacklustre performance from the experienced pairing, but rest assured they will come back stronger.

John Priestland and Kate Lawrence grew in confidence. John showed good tactical nous and targeted the weaker opponent and the right areas of the court. Kate was tenacious and confident in the volley.

In the Group of Death, the sting was taken out by the withdrawal through injury of Owen Saunders in the first match, which meant walkovers were given to all their opponents. This was especially unlucky for Owen’s partner Mike Shattock, who looked to be playing considerably better than his handicap. Despite walkovers being given, Nick Wood generously filled in for the third match which Mike and Nick lost 13/2 to Simon Mansfield and Nicola Doble – the biggest loss of all the games played in the tournament!

Knockout Stages

The pick of the quarter-finals was Tim Church and Peter Flood overcoming Oliver and John 8/5. Despite their pre-tournament billing as potential winners, Buckley buckled and East’s game went South when confronted by inspired opponents and a large handicap difference.

In the semi-finals David Blizzard had dominated the match against Church and Flood with Peter Mather popping up at the net with some crucial volleys on the way to an 8/4 lead when the bell sounded for the end of the time.

Kate and John had a tighter semi-final against Simon Edmond and Clive Dacre, but a couple of crucial 40-all games turned the match in their favour and at the bell they had opened up a 7/5 lead.

The final was the second meeting of the two pairs over the weekend, with Kate and John having won the close match in the group stage. Despite David’s eager efforts charging around the court volleying expertly (and despite a new pair of fetching black and red briefs for Peter), the handicap of receive ½ 30/owe 30 proved too much as both Kate and John retrieved well and took their chances when they came along.

Thanks to Nick and Stef for sterling work in the dedans over the three days (no need for any video replays here) and for such an enjoyable competition, and well done to Kate and John for a thoroughly deserved victory.

Gallery

20^th May, 2010

Queen’s Club 1 lost to RTC 1, 1/2

Report

Gerard Eden writes:

Anyone who has played Drew Lyons knows what a tough assignment he is on the slippery surfaces of his Queen’s home court. Fresh, but maybe lacking practice from marking the World Championship in Melbourne, Drew didn’t really capitalise on this advantage throughout the match. All credit to his opponent Matty Ronaldson who fought hard and played smart to hold a 6/3 5/5 position before things went away from him. Drew banters whether marking or playing, but when the frequency of this increases one knows Drew is feeling comfortable. Lyon-hearted wounded-knee in 3.

Nick Wood is enigmatic. He beat World number four Bryn Sayers 6/1, 6/4 like it was a medium sudoku on a Tuesday morning with a cup of tea in his other hand. Go figure.

Metaphor aside, Wood was authoritative and precise in attack, brilliant and virtually faultless in retrieving, and in being so, turned on its end a match pundits saw the Queen’s team claiming. Maybe he revels in being the party pooper?

Briefly marshalling his willing albeit slightly hobbled partner (Matty), Wood conducted another symphony in the doubles. Several restes had the small but appreciative crowd out of their chairs in excitement and then applause, but it was all inexorably the Royal Tennis Court’s silvery fox to do with as he pleased. He kept the assembled spectators captivated, almost mockingly pretending it a genuine contest before he swept his team (which is rumoured to be strengthened by Ben Matthews in the final) into next Thursday’s showdown with MURTC, back at the Queen’s Club.

Who knows which Nick Wood will show up at next Thursday’s final; whichever, it will be compelling…

Tickets

A few tickets for the final are available. Please contact the professionals for details.

Details of other matches, and the final league table, can be found here.

Ben Matthews writes:

‘A’ Grade

Simon Barker and David Watson battled it out for the Barker-Camm Cup for the title of ‘Club Singles Champion’ on Sunday 17^th May. Simon, with nine titles in the last ten years, was aiming to retain the title, but the form guide suggested a Watson victory.

Simon dominated the start of the first set – and hit the marker on the forehead – and despite David fighting back managed to close it out 6/2. This situation was reversed in the second set, although Simon’s stronger fightback saw the second set being closer than the first, David winning 6/4 following a five-minute long deuce-advantage-deuce struggle in the final game.

David quickly stopped Simon’s comeback by winning the first two games of the final set. However Simon won the third game, then four more to open up a 5/2 lead. David dug deep to win another game, but Simon wrapped it up in the next game to take the match and the championship 6/2, 4/6, 6/3.

This is Simon’s tenth club championship win, which is amazing achievement by any standard.

‘C’ Grade

After the excitement of the ‘A’ Grade Final, David Durham and Gareth Quarry stepped onto court (an hour late) for the final of the ‘C’ Grade.

After sharing the opening two games, David and Gareth contested the longest game of the match – lasting a full 15 minutes with countless deuces – David finally edging it for a 2/1 lead. There then followed a breathtaking display of target hitting from David. His opponent could only stand and watch ball after ball pass him, followed by the sound of the perspex in front of Henry VIII’s nose! After a very close start to the match, David streaked ahead to take the first set 6/2.

Gareth changed his tactics in the second set, laying chases and spending more time at the service end, only for David to relentlessly hit the dedans from the hazard end! David soon powered his way through to win the match and the championship 6/1 6/2.

Congratulations to David on a very solid performance and commiserations to Gareth, who unfortunately caught David on a good day!

After an attritional weekend of matches Nigel O’Hagan beat Paul Kettle in the ‘B’ Grade final.

Nick Wood reports:

“Nigel showed glimpses of his younger years, sliding the ball effortlessly over the net while gliding from corner to corner to retrieve the tenacious shots of his opponent. I would say that it was a well chosen plan by Nigel, but we all know that he can’t play any other way. Paul dug his heels in, not willing to let his opponent have it all his own way, but Nigel made sensible choices especially on return of serve: rather than returning the backhand ‘Drag’ serve of Paul’s (which has many an opponent pulling their hair out) on the volley, he allowed it to come off the back wall and then stroked the ball into the corners. The match was a well fought affair: congratulations to both for playing a competitive game in such a sporting manner.”

The full list of results is available to download here (54Kb Adobe PDF).

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