Haverhill City Open Championships.

What can one say about city tournament? Todd and Ken destroyed each other in a close three rounder with 15-20 shot ground stroke rallies. Ken won in the end but paid a high price by popping a hamstring and having to default in the second game of the second set to Ray the next day. Little Joe played well against Chad who just had too much firepower and skill plus equaled his speed. The Palm Beach Florida pro who was teaching down the Cape turned out to be a joke! (Ray called it beforehand!) And I definitely can not hang with twenty one year old Bentley singles players, especially lefties.

Toad and Dave did make it to the doubles finals by taking out Peter Lynch and Steve Iola in a hard fought match. They then made a really good showing against Ray Reed & Randall Seabrook 6-3, 6-4 in a match I thought should have gone on to a third set. At least we all played both singles and doubles and supported the Haverhill Tournament. This by the way is helping to pay for the badly needed resurfacing of the courts in mid August.

Ray Reed both Haverhill Singles & Doubles Champion was too cool for school and true to his word! He played with us on Saturday for several hours (seven plus sets) sprang for a twelve pack which made a total of well over thirty plus beers counting Jose’s 211’s. The tennis had its moments but was more about that machismo inner city street ball mindset. Instead of hoops and b-balls it was racquet's and tennis balls. After 10 hours of tennis this boy was beat and doing the duffle bag drag!