Match Suspended at a tie in the 3rd!

Friday December 3, 2010
7-Flags Fitness Center
Clive, IA
By Steve England
Three hours just wasn't enough!  A court change offered better seating for the crowd, but delayed the match about 20 minutes.  A medical timeout for cramps took a little more time, but there was still nearly 2 1/2 hours of play.  Unfortunately, when 9pm came... the facility closed with the match unresolved. 

JM wins the toss and elects to serve... Opening with an ace to begin the match!  JM breaks SV to take a 3-1 lead early in the 1st.  SV hangs on... Eventually leveling the set at 5-all, but JM takes the next 2 for a 1st set victory which took an hour to conclude.

Each player's momentum alternated in the 2nd tied at both 2-all, and 4-all.  When SV battles back from a 40-15 deficit to break JM in a pivotal 3-deucer.  Leading 5-4 in the 2nd - SV holds a set point against JM, but can't finish him off as JM wins one of the hardest fought points  of the match.  Two points later JM hits the net - giving SV a 2nd set victory.  This 2nd set also took close to an hour to conclude.

Short on time - JM quickly goes up 3-0 before SV can regain any momentum.  SV returns the favor winning 3-straight to tie the set as time expires and the 7-Flags facility begins to close.  What was looking like a nail biter will have to be resolved another day (Yet to be announced). Score stands at 1-set all, 3-all in the 3rd.

The officiating crew and ball-kids...

A special "Thank You" goes out for all those who volunteered their time to make the Final Match a pseudo-professional event! KB served both as match umpire, and honored the event with a well executed rendition of the National Anthem.  So good in fact - all activity on the adjoining courts stopped out of respect! BW and MM served as line judges - their calls left no doubt whether a ball was in or out.  A couple critical calls could have gone the other way, and perhaps changed the course of the match without their keen (hawk) eyes! KB and JM volunteered their oldest children as ball-kids (A sometimes dangerous endeavour)! Not depicted is TowerTennis Photographer KS.  Without him there would be no pictorial record of the match.  A collection of his work will be added as time permits.  Lastly, I'd like to thank the spectators who showed their support by attending the final match!