Throughout the month of August, the Stratford Tennis Club played out their annual Club Championship tournaments. With 42 entries in the men’s singles and 17 entries in the ladies singles it was a full month of play. Players started in the ‘A’ division and those who lost their first round matches moved to the ‘B’ division. Championship night was full of familiar faces and a few new comers.
The Men’s ‘A’ final made history. Nine time Men’s ‘A’ singles champion Bob Tamblyn had advanced to the final with complete control of his matches. Tamblyn took out hard hitting Grant McPherson in his semifinal with a 6-3 6-0 win. Tamblyn won the Men’s singles title at the Southhampton Tennis Club the previous weekend on their fast, hard courts and returned to play on the slower clay surface of the Stratford club. Entering the final Tamblyn was tied with Velma Hansford with 27 total championship titles at the Stratford club, a modern day record. (modern day refers to the Stratford club’s play at the current Upper Queen’s Park location) A win would give Tamblyn the Club record.
His opponent in the final was junior phenomena Luke Fischer. In a round of 16 Fischer took out 2011 finalist Kurt Eickmeier, then followed that by dispatching defending champion Richard Bast in three sets in the quarter-finals. He outlasted #3 seed Jason Erb in a semifinal scoring a 4-6 6-2 7-5 win. The 14 year old Fischer is the second youngest men’s finalist in club history, being 8 days older than Bill Sibold when he appeared in the 1981 final. A win by Fischer would make him the youngest Men’s ‘A’ champion in the history of the Stratford Tennis Club.
The championship match saw the long, strategic rallies typical of both players games. Power tennis was replaced by smart, tactical tennis with many great gets and the use of angles. The young Fischer found out that you can play a great match and still not get great results when you play Tamblyn. The savvy veteran stayed on top of Luke and scored an impressive 6-0 6-1 victory. This gave Tamblyn his 10th Men’s Singles title, a club record, and a historic 28th overall title…. a new club record.
The Ladies ‘A’ final was a rematch of last year’s final between Krista Plociennik and Marta Andrekovic. Plociennik who has won four straight Ladies ‘A’ titles and 6 overall, advanced to her 8th straight finals by defeating Sandie Ennett in straight sets in her semifinal. Andrekovic advanced to her second straight final by taking out newcomer Rileigh Jackson 6-2 5-7 6-1 in her semifinal. Andrekovic had previously won the Mixed Doubles title (with Bob Tamblyn) and the Ladies Doubles title (with daughter Sonja) by beating Plociennik and her partners in the finals. Andrekovic would go for the triple crown in a singles final between the undisputed, top two women players at the Club.
The championship match saw Andrekovic come out determined and with a great game plan. Andrekovic controlled the rallies from the start, avoiding Plociennik’s powerful forehand and dictating play with great serving and well placed ground strokes. The first set went to Andrekovic, scoring a 6-2 win in one of the most impressive sets played at the Club all season. With her back against the wall in the second set Plociennik found a way to make a dent in Andrekovic’s game with powerful and deep forehands. Plociennik finally broke Andrekovic’s serve in the middle of the set and took the second set 6-3.
In the final and deciding set Andrekovic took advantage of Plociennik’s backhand to open the court for her well placed ground strokes. Plociennik countered with better depth on her shots to get some short balls which she could then attack. The evenly played match turned with Plociennik getting a late service break. She then held her serve to secure her 5th straight Ladies ‘A’ title with the 2-6 6-3 6-3 win. It was easily the match of the night and one of the best Ladies ‘A’ finals ever played at the Club.
The Men’s ‘B’ final saw defending champion Steven Schwartzentruber facing first time finalist Mike Blackburn. Schwartzentruber advanced to his second straight ‘B’ final by dispatching Ryan Lay 6-4 6-3 in his semifinal. Blackburn had taken out Stephen Fischer 4-6 6-3 6-1 in his semi.
The final match was full of long rallies. Both players held their serves until Blackburn was able to break Schwartzentruber in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. Blackburn served for the first set but Schwartzentruber broke right back and then ran through to a 7-5 first set victory. Blackburn recovered and took control of the second set with a 6-3 second set win. A third set was needed to determine the title. Schwartzentruber showed his mental toughness and physical determination, running down all balls and making each rally last as long as possible. His determination paid off as Schwartzentruber took the final set 6-3. The 7-5 3-6 6-3 victory gave Schwartzenruber his second straight Men’s ‘B’ championship.
The Ladies ‘B’ final also saw a player trying to repeat as champion. 14 year old Nicolle Crowley would take on Michele Thomson for the title. Crowley had gotten past Janessa Chambers in her semifinal, while Thomson advanced to the title match with a 6-3 6-3 win over Gayle Brooks.
The championship match was similar to the Men’s ‘A’ final. There were long rallies and good play but the challenger had no luck in scoring game wins. Crowley was dominant with well placed ground strokes and big serving. Thomson, playing in her first Club Championship final, played well but had no answers. Crowley scored a 6-1 6-0 victory to claim her second straight Ladies ‘B’ singles championship.
Bill White
