Another chilly 50 degree morning on the key (being a “Florida weather wimp,” any temperature that starts with a 5 is cold to me!) and we played our final round robin match vs the #2 seeds of Steve Lunsford and Jim Lazenby, with the winners moving onto the semi’s in the afternoon. 

Our Match

Noble and I went down a quick break in the first set; but came back from 0-3 to make it 3-3. We stayed on serve till I served at 4-5; and although we had 40-0 lead, somehow lost the game and the first set. 

The second set was similar, but we went up an early break of serve and they broke back. With many great points and close games, we found ourselves again with me serving at 4-5.  With about 6-7 deuces, they persevered to take the game and the 1:45-hour match.

Noble and I played well and will team up again for the three January tournaments in Naples. 

A Noble Effort 

After a short rest, Noble took the court for his singles semis vs #4 Frank Hagelshaw.  With his legs feeling the effects of a lot of tennis this week, Noble lost the first set 6-2. And then repeated the same score in the second set. 

Tomorrow, Hagelshaw will face #1 seeded Fred Drilling, who beat Alan Carter 6-4, 6-3.

Drilling vs Bachmann

In the top half of the 75 doubles semifinals, it was the veteran teams of Fred Drilling/Clive Kileff vs Joe Bachmann/Bill Plummer.  With lobs and angle volleys flying, the Sarasota team of Bachmann/Plummer took the first set 6-3. 

In the second set, Mr. Drilling took control and they cruised to a 6-1 set win. In the deciding third (full) set, they came back to even tennis; and at 3-3, Bachmann/Plummer broke serve.  Joe served for the match at 5-4, but was broken. 

After two holds of serve, Bachmann/Plummer found themselves down three match points 5-6, 0-40.  They were able to save all of them… but another came about that they couldn’t save. 

The Fiends of Frustration 

In the other doubles semifinals, the team that beat us faced the very challenging Naples team of Ted Underwood and John “Swanny” Swan.  If you have ever played or seen them play, you know they control the net and get everything back in play (with very unorthodox strokes).

That is what they did and took the first set in a tiebreaker. In the second set, they were up a break 2-0, ad in … when Mr. Mo switched to the other side.  L&L ran off ELEVEN straight games and eventually took the match 6-7,6-2,6-1.

My psych analysis: in the first set, L&L played like “We can’t lose to THESE guys!”  And at 2-0 in the second set, Ted and Swanny played like “uld we actually beat THESE guys?!”

Men’s 65 Singles
SF	(2) Carl Sechen d. (3) Robert Graham	6-4; 7-5
SF	(1) Larry Turville d. (9) Jeff Feldman	6-2; 6-2

Men’s 70 Singles
SF	(2) Vishnu Maharaj d. (4) Steven Foldes	6-3; 7-5
SF	(1) Michael Beautyman d. (9) Laurence Hammel	6-0; 6-0

70s Doubles

When I left the venue, Naples friend Steve Shreiner, who was teamed with Andre Marois, were leading in the first set.  They went on to cruise to a 6-2, 6-0 victory and will face #1 seeded Larry Albritton/Frank Bova in the finals (IF, they win their semis). For their, and all other results, just click HERE

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