The STRATFORD TENNIS CLUB held its annual Masters Doubles Tournament September 20th. The breezy but beautiful conditions led to a great day of play and socializing.
The Men’s Doubles ‘A’ final saw three time defending champions Bill White and Zdenko Andrekovic taking on Paul Coates and Larry Shurrie. White, playing for the first time in 5 weeks due to an arm injury, and Andrekovic, advanced to the final by playing a steady game with Andrekovic’s backhand volley being the dominant shot. Shurrie, who advanced to the final in 2012 with Pat McCarroll, used his big serve and great hands at the net to match the smart and steady play of Coates to book their spot in the final.
The championship match went back and forth until it reached 4 games all. After Andrekovic held his serve for a 5-4 lead he and White broke Shurrie’s serve to break the match open. After another service hold, White and Andrekovic broke again to secure their fourth straight Masters title with an 8-4 victory.
The Men’s ‘A’ consolation title match was dominated by Jason Erb and Wayne Carney. The first year players at the Club rode Erb’s big, lefty serve and Carney’s quickness around the court to dispatch Brent Hiller and Murray Schiedel 8-2 in the final.
The Men’s ‘B’ final went the distance. In the end, Pat McCarroll and Jagdish Patel edged Stuart Arkett and Mike Furlong 8-7, to win the tie breaker 7-2 .
The Ladies Doubles ‘A’ final was going to see a new champion. Gail Shelton and Cathy Mowbray had advanced to their first final with very impressive wins. In the final they would face Ginny Smith and Janet Bradley. Bradley, in her first season at the Club, teamed up with long time member Smith to out steady opponents on their way to the final. The championship match was as close as it could get. Neither team could get an advantage as the match advanced to the inevitable tie breaker to decide the title. At 6 points to 5 Smith and Bradley had one more match point and this time got the job done. The 8-7 (7 points to 5 in the tie breaker) win gave Smith and Bradley the 2014 championship.
The Ladies ‘A’ consolation champions were Nancy Chung and Erma Weernink who downed Barb Thibeault and Allison Hiller. The final featured many long rallies but in the end Chung and Weernink took the title with an 8-5 victory.
The Ladies ‘B’ final was also a long, close match. The title eventually was won by Monica Eickmeyer and Marilyn Leasa who downed Liana DeJong and Lindsay Murray 8 to 6.
The Ladies ‘B’ consolation final saw first time tournament entrants Gayle Brooks and Liz Yundt take out Caryn Scott and Noella Schiedel 8-3 to win the crown.
Play was followed by a wonderful pot luck supper with music and laughter ending a great day at the Club.
Bill White
(l to r) Zdenko Andrekovic and Bill White (Men’s ‘A’ Champions), Ginny Smith and Janet Bradley (Ladies ‘A’ Champions)