7/26/18:
"4 play at NTC, MXD2 Final part of 15 at C.G.!":
There were two official sessions of GTA Thursday Night Tennis: there was the one at the newly renovated Park Ave. Courts in Nutley as "The Dark Knight" Dan Knizter acted as the impromptu host of the session and provided us with a comprehensive report; and then there was the usual one at the Cedar Grove Courts and it featured the MXD2 Final between the teams of GTA Champion: "King Crush" Chris Chiaro/Former GTA Women's Champ: Laura "The Aura" Gawley and "NC-17" Nick Caputo/Fadia "Finesse" Nicolas (with both Chris and Laura reporting). "Bravo" Brenda Jordan and "The Marathon Woman" Doinks Srinivasan were the other two contributors to this report from that session.
The much-anticipated last of the "Grove Cup 21" Round of 32 Matches did not happen as we had expected it would. It was set to be "Daddy O" Paul Daddio going up against "MC Smash" Mike Corrado, but Corrado needed a reschedule (not sure if this was due to the uncertain weather forecast or a change in plans). Paul said that Mike had told him he could play this coming Sunday. That will be the final extension for this match. If Corrado fails to come thru this last time around, then Daddio will receive a bye into the Round of 16. But we are all hoping that the match will get played instead.
Let's first go to Dan's full report from Nutley and then the combined recap of all the results from Cedar Grove. OK, Dan, take it away!
So I hit the Park Ave. Courts tonight around 7pm for the first time since their renovations were completed. And I must say, it's a big improvement...no more cracks on the courts, the nets were perfect, the surface felt level, etc.
I played Rich Liu and tried to break this awful losing streak I've had against him (he's beaten me at least four straight times, all One-Setters).
The Park Ave. Courts Results:
Dan Knitzer over Rich Liu, 6-4! No Aces.
The TDK Replay: I played defensively, but introduced some offense whenever I saw an opening. Rich was getting to every drop shot I hit and playing solid at the net, but my lobs were on point!
Rich came back from down 2-4 to even it at 4-4 and then he nearly held serve to make it 5-4, but I broke him with some good court coverage, lobs, and even a few powerful inside-out forehands. I closed it out on my serve to win it, 6-4, finally breaking my losing streak!
Rich played great defense (and great offense, at times). Both of us served well and returned well (no Aces!). As always, it was fun and physical!
Rich and I then teamed up to play against "Fiery" Fausto Murg and "Merciless" Miten Patel.
Fausto Murg/Miten Patel over Dan Knitzer/Rich Liu, 7-5! Rich: 1 Ace; Fausto: 1 Ace; and Miten: 1 Ace!
The TDK Replay: Those guys came out swinging! Fausto was an absolute beast at the net, seemingly getting to every shot (my previously great lobs were no match for his ups!) and he probably made about ten winners to perhaps just two unforced errors.
Miten was solid at the baseline, but quick enough to get my drop shots and rebound Rich's aggressive forehands whenever he was at the net.
"Fiery Fausto" and "Merciless Miten" went up 5-1, but Rich and I would not be defeated so easily. We held off two Match Points when down 1-5, and then another three when Rich served at 4-5. Rich saved the last MP on his serve with an Ace to the outer line of the ad box. He was an absolute beast in that game, covering the court like Nadal and hitting something resembling a banana shot as well!
I served when we were down 5-6 and immediately lost the first three points to give Sir Fiery and Mister Merciless a Triple Break/Match Point edge, but Rich and I rallied back to win the next two points before finally falling on the 3rd Break/Match Point (the 8th MP overall!). It was a great One-Setter all around!
Samara's Notes: I thank Dan for his very comprehensive and colorful write-up. I congratulate him on the long-awaited one-set win over Rich. And that last One-Setter has an outside shot at being a Nominee for One-Set Doubles Match of The Year at season's end.
Time to head west to Cedar Grove for all that happened up there.
The Cedar Grove Results:
MXD2 Final Match:
Chris Chiaro/Laura Gawley over Nick Caputo/Fadia Nicolas, 6-1, 6-1, to successfully defend their # 2 Rank in the Mixed Doubles Division while becoming the 2018 MXD2 Champs and next Top Contenders (to the GTA Mixed Doubles Championship)! No Aces.
The Lowdown from Laura: We started at 6:30 and played until 7:35! We had a lot of great points as Nick and Fadia were a lot of fun to play with!
Samara's Notes: I thank both Chris and Laura for their very timely reporting (Chris provided some additional scores later in this report). I also congratulate them on a highly impressive victory that capped an incredible run thru this tournament! I do not envy our current GTA Mixed Doubles Champions: "Super Mario" Marijus Kuzavas and "The Smackdown" Sally Pillay, who have to face Chiaro/Gawley next!
Senthil Kumar/Kathy Sheldon over Jordan Bachvaroff/Brenda Jordan, 6-2! No Aces.
Jordan Bachvaroff/Brenda Jordan over Senthil Kumar/Kathy Sheldon, 6-2! No Aces.
The Brief from Brenda: We didn't play a 3rd Set (to make it a full match) because Kathy had to leave.
Chris Chiaro/Janice Wang over Nick Caputo/Fadia Nicolas, 6-4! No Aces.
Chris Chiaro/Dino Celis over Nick Caputo/John Rizzo, 6-2! Chris: 1 Ace on John!
Joe Rodrigues/Nick Inciong over Chris Chiaro/Dino Celis, 6-2! No Aces.
2 out of 3 Sets Mixed Doubles Match:
Senthil Kumar/Doinks Srinivasan over Kris Srinivasan/Fadia Nicolas, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), as both teams entered the Mixed Doubles Division as the New #60 and # 61 Ranked Teams respectively! No Aces.
The Details from Doinks: Senthil and I were up 6-1 in the Tiebreak when Kris and Fadia saved bunch of Match Points to pull to 6-5 before we finally closed it out!
Senthil Kumar/Doinks Srinivasan tied with Kris Srinivasan/Fadia Nicolas, 3-3 (Incomplete when the lights went out at 10pm)! No Aces.
Chris Chiaro/Dino Celis leading Joe Rodrigues/Nick Inciong, 3-2 (Incomplete when the lights went out at 10pm)! No Aces.
Samara's Notes: I thank everyone who contributed to this report in such a timely manner. As always, it is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Frank Samara
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