Greetings!
What a fantastic month of tennis – starting with the conclusion of the 2023 U.S. Open in Boston. Congratulations to U.S. Open Singles Champion – Camden Riviere – and U.S. Open Doubles Champions – Camden Riviere and Tim Chisholm. Then it was off to the races with the Women's Invitational, the Percy Cup, the Northrup Knox Doubles, and the U.S. 50s Singles and Doubles. The U.S. 60s and 70s Singles and Doubles finals are closing the month on Sunday.
The first rounds of the eliminator series to determine the challenger to World Champion – Camden Riviere, were played in Philadelphia and Aiken. The winners – John Lumley and Nick Howell – will face off in a final eliminator. The location and dates will be announced later this week.
A few national titles are on the line in April and May– the U.S. 40s, the U.S. Amateur, and the U.S. Ladies Open. This week, the National League Super Event kicks off and features U.S.-based professionals and top amateurs. The matches will be streamed on the USCTA YouTube channel.
As you prepare for your upcoming tournaments – you may ask, "Should I leave a hazard chase?" What a great question, and Steve Virgona has the answer in this month's Pro Tip.
Good news from Washington – after a long protracted saga, the tambour has been fixed! While the work was being completed, they discovered some exciting options for the tambour. What? – you'll have to read on to find out, but here's a hint…it's ingenious.
Finally, if you see Hazel Christensen and Calliope Yannuzzi, wish them luck as they head off to the Inaugural U19 Girl's World Championship at the Oratory School in a few weeks.
Until next month….
Sincerely,
U.S. Court Tennis Association
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Arthur Drane, Ben Taylor-Matthews, Nick Howell, Camden Riviere, Leon Smart, Matt Mitchell & Tim Chisholm |
The Tennis & Racquet Club of Boston hosted the 2023 US Open. It took place from February 23rd to March 2nd. I realize that the results and highlights were featured in the first March edition of Chase. I will do my best to fill in the rest. On the singles side, it began with 23 players and ended with one. Camden Riviere was the victor. On the doubles side, Cam Riviere and Tim Chisholm prevailed. The field was packed with amazingly talented players. Seven of the top ten players in the world were in the draw. The rest of the draw featured pros and amateurs from all over the world. Two players ( and tennis committee members) from the T&R, Ben Hudson and Andrew Peabody, qualified for and played in the Open. The social side of the tournament was highlighted by cocktail parties held in the Hamlen Room sponsored by the USCTPF, Northfield, and Morse Barnes-Brown & Pendleton. There was also a dinner at the Capitol Grille. Haven Pell held a presentation and book signing to a packed Court 4 audience. Haven shared some excerpts and thoughts from his book " Around the World in Fifty Courts," A must-read for game fans.
The planning for the Open began over a year ago. The T&R was determined to get this right. I would like to thank the Tennis Committee. Members Mark Beaumont, Paul Bolster, Ken Forton, Ben Hudson, PJ Jean, Trevor Jones, Andrew Peabody, Janice Pearson, Matt Mitchell, Leon Smart, Ezekiel Silverstein, and Andrew Roberts worked tirelessly to make this event happen. The T&R staff, Janice Pearson, Tom Dobbins, Tom Picken, and the maintenance crew ensured the event ran smoothly. Of course, Dev Hamlin and club president Matt Mitchell for their leadership. There are two people I would like to thank personally. John Bigelow for being in the Dedans. Every time I sit next to Biggy, I receive a masterclass on the T&R and Court Tennis. Thanks also to Adam Inselbuch. Adam supported the tournament greatly and traveled from Chicago to watch a day of the matches! Thanks to everyone who made this tournament successful. Our pros, Leon Smart and Neil Smith did a fantastic job organizing and marking all the matches. Thanks to every player who came to Boston to play in the Open.
Until the next time,
Arthur A Drane JR
Chair of the T&R Tennis Committee and US Open
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Mark Windmill. Michael Gorsen, Victoria Scott, Bill Green, Baird Standish, John Schellenberg & Dick Tanfield |
PHILA 2 WINS
PERCY CUP
by John Lumley
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We had nine teams descend upon The Racquet Club of Philadelphia for the 2023 Percy Cup. Washington 2 came out the blocks quickly, taking down the number 1 team on Philadelphia 1 8-2, but Haab & Scott tied up the match with an 8-4 win. Knox & Lago played some very steady Tennis putting Skaggs & Barr under pressure, and ended up taking the match 8-5 progressing Washington 2 to the next round. Philadelphia 2 vs. Chicago was up next, and we ended up having two matches go to 7 games-all! Green & Standish stayed steady to win 8-7 with some great rallies. Schellenberg & Tanfield were too solid for their opponents to guarantee the win for Philadelphia 2. New York 1 were keen to keep the title in their names and started strongly to take the win two matches to 1 over Tuxedo. New York 2 had a clean sweep against Washington 2, with the last match going the distance with an 8-7 win for Yaari & Diamond.
The consolation final saw Philadelphia 1 take on Tuxedo. Wetherill & Carroll found some form to take down McMorris & Alexandre in a battle 8-7 to give Philadelphia 1 the first rubber. Dave Christensen & Todd Yannuzzi played an excellent game to take down Haab & Scott 8-2 to tie up the match at one game all! Calliope Yannuzzi & Hazel Christensen were serving and playing fantastically, putting the pressure on Skaggs & Barr. Ultimately, Tuxedo prevailed and took the win 8-5 to give them 2-1 in the match. Very well played by both teams.
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Vaughan Massie & Jeremy Wintersteen |
2023 U.S. 50s
by An Interested Observer
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The 2023 US 50s Singles & Doubles were contested at the Racquet Club of Chicago from March 24 – 26. Players from three US clubs made the trip to Chicago; guests were from Newport, Boston, and Aiken joining the Chicago members vying for the titles.
The tournament began on Friday with Peter Dunne edging out another local, Brad Beatty 6-4 6-1. In the next match, Rowan Carroll and Chip Von Weise had a tight contest with Rowan proving a little too steady and gaining the victory 6-4 6-2.
The Friday night cocktail party guests were treated to some fine play with the doubles matches proving very entertaining. In a wonderful atmosphere the partnerships of John Pak and Chip Von Weise along with Vaughan Massie and Rowan Carroll were too strong for their opponents, both winning in straight sets. The night's final match saw Jeremy Wintersteen face off against local Chicago member Andrew Fritz. Andrew produced some of his best tennis to date, pushing Jeremy consistently from corner and forcing him to raise his level of play. There were some amazing restes and the score line didn’t do the match justice with Jeremy prevailing 6-2 6-1.
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Peter Dunne, Max Drake, Steve Virgona,
Jeremy Wintersteen & Shawn Herlihy
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Xanthe Ranger & Marie-Victoire Wickers |
The Women’s Invitational had a decidedly Tuxedo Club feel to it in 2023 with five of the six participants being Tuxedo members, and the sixth in the process of hopefully becoming a member!
After 10 entertaining Round Robin matches, Marie-Victoire Wickers earned the right to play Xanthe Ranger for the title of 2023 Women’s Invitational Champion.
Xanthe showed why she is the top-ranked women’s player in the United States with a dominant straight sets victory.
Congratulations to all the participants!
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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ELIMINATORS
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John Lumley defeated Chris Chapman 5 sets to 2 (6-2, 6-4, 6-4, 5-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0) in the first World Championship Eliminator. held at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia.
Nick Howell defeated Ben Taylor-Matthews 5 sets to 2 to win the second Eliminator. 6-5, 5-6, 6-5, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 held at the Aiken Tennis Club.
John Lumley will face Nick Howell in the Final Eliminator to decide who challenges Camden Riviere for the World Championship at Westwood C.C. in September. The time and location of the Final Eliminator will be determined in about a week's time.
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WASHINGTON TAMBOUR RECONSTRUCTED |
After a five-day repair process, the tambour at Westwood Country Club has been reconstructed. The tambour is now at a more traditional angle and behaves normally.
"Nuns fret not at their convent's narrow room," and Westwood members have enjoyed adapting to our unusual tambour angle. The last six months saw a 12% increase in shots for the winning gallery and an 18% increase in shots for the grille, as players learned new skills to compensate. Many members found the challenge added a new spice to the game, and we have received numerous requests to change the angle again in the future.
To allow for such changes, we have reconstructed the tambour using a concealed hinge system that will allow us to change the tambour angle in a little less than two hours. The surface of the tambour has also been coated with textured glass, allowing us to show the score on the tambour and display tasteful advertising during changeovers. Funds will be used to supplement the purse during key events, such as the world championship, which Westwood is scheduled to host September 17-21.
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2023 Knox winners Morgan Purvis and George C. Handy, III. Richard and Linda Knox and
finalists Rakesh Jasani and Jason McAlhaney
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GOOD LUCK -
HAZEL & CALLIOPE!
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Hazel Christensen and Calliope Yannuzzi are heading off to the Inaugural Girl's World Championships at The Oratory School on April 13-16. Hazel and Calliope play out of Tuxedo and were the recipients of the Most Improved Junior Award last December.
Play well and have a wonderful time! We are rooting for you!
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
NOTE: Your Pro Shop should have Fixture Cards available, if you would like one.
2023
APRIL
3/31- APR 2
PHILADELPHIA
National Singles & Doubles championship for players ages 60 and over and 70 and over.
3-5
NEW YORK
U.S. based pros & top amateurs play in a team format
6-9
WASHINGTON
Handicap Doubles for all levels
10-16
ORATORY
World Championship in Singles & Doubles
21-23
NEWPORT
National Singles & Doubles championship for players ages 40 and over
21-23
CHICAGO
1st Leg Rackets World Singles Championship & Billy Cup for multiple sports
28-30
WASHINGTON
National Singles & Doubles championship
MAY
5-7
LAKEWOOD
Women's handicap singles
19-21
WASHINGTON
National Singles & Doubles championship
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SHOULD I LEAVE A HAZARD CHASE? |
It’s an interesting question and based on several different factors.
In this months Edition, we are going to assume we are playing a level match.
When playing a match, I always focus on 5 main factors.
- How easily am I setting chases?
- How difficult is my next shot?
- If the rally continues, how out of position am I?
- Whats the score in the game?
- Is it my home court?
- If you are setting chases fairly easily, I would be more willing to hit the ball.
- If you feel fairly confident you can execute the next shot easily i’d be more willing to hit the next ball
- My shot needs to be the last of the rally, either I set a chase or win the point. If you can’t achieve either outcome, i’d lean toward leaving it to create a hazard chase.
- The risk changes in relation to the score of the game. You can play more freely when up in the game but I would still focus on the first 3 factors.
- If it isn’t my home court, I would be more prone to leaving the ball as the service end is even more imperative.
Whatever you decide to do and regardless of the outcome of the rally, move forward and focus on the next point and the rest of the match.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE SUPER EVENT |
The National League Super Event will be held in New York April 3-5. It will feature the top U.S. pros and amateurs in a team format over three days It will be streamed on the USCTA YouTube channel.. |
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