This post was taken directly from the Hopkins website and I did not contribute at all to the post. I just thought that this match would be interesting to my readers.
Both the Hopkins and the Brunswick boys varsity tennis teams came into today's match knowing a lot was at stake. Both teams had been undefeated in Fairchester Tennis League competition up to this point, and Brunswick was the New England Prep School Team Champion in the "B" division in 2009.
The match began with Brunswick veteran Kyle Wolstencroft at #4 singles soundly defeating Hopkins' Luke Foreman 6--0, 6--1, with superior pace and experience. But Hopkins #1 Nolan Paige evened the score by upending a determined Sam King, 6--1, 6--4, using punishing, accurate, and aggressive topspin ground strokes to force play, and even the match at 1--1. It turned out that these two matches were the only matches to be decided in two sets.
At #2 doubles, the Hopkins team of Alec & Michael Bartimer gained an advantage for Hopkins with steady and penetrating cross court ground strokes along with opportunistic volleys to gain a 6--2, 4--6, 6--1 victory. In a match at #1 doubles with hard hitting, and a lot of determination on both sides, tri-captains Bobby Berkowitz and Jerrod Dobkin eventually triumphed over Brunswick's Matt Mackin and Matt Shang in a see-saw battle, 6--3, 1--6, 6--4.
But this was as far as it went for Hopkins today. At #3 doubles, Alex Blythe and Ryan Daley won the first set against Robbie Ravelli and Luca Knupfer, but were unable to counter the strong net play of the Brunswick team in the second set. The third set went back and forth; unfortunately for Hopkins, some unforced errors at crucial points undermined the Hilltoppers' cause, and this gave the Brunswick team a hard earned 3--6, 6--1, 7--6 victory.
What remained on the courts were the #2 and #3 singles matches. Hopkins' Russell Einbinder at #2, after losing the first set, came back strong to win the second set, and both players were on serve in the 3rd set at 2--2 when Russell sustained severe leg cramps and had to retire.
This left the match score at 3--3 with Brunswick's John Brosens pitted against Hopkins' Brian Astrachan. Both players battled fiercely, but in the end Brosens' stronger serve and harder hit forehand proved to be the difference, with the score ending up 6--3, 4--6, 6--4 to give Brunswick the match and the Fairchester Tennis League title.
Source: Hopkins Athletic Website
I didn't realize that the FAA plays a 4 singles, 3 doubles format. The New England's match will be different because it's a 7-point format.
I didn't realize that the FAA plays a 4 singles, 3 doubles format. The New England's match will be different because it's a 7-point format.
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