Father & Son Duo Surprise at Norwich Tennis Tournament
Fred and Noah Bateman of McDonough pulled off a stunning finals upset in the
Doubles Competition while there were no surprises in the Men's Singles as
the top seed, Norwich's Tom Mody, claimed his second Tournament title.
The annual tournament sponsored by the Norwich Public Tennis Club was
extended extra weekends due to weather and ultimately scheduling problems
which suited eventual singles champ, Mody just fine. Mody was deep in a hole
during his semi-final match with Fred Bateman as both players endured
stiffling humidity during the match. Down 2-5 and match point his luck
turned as Bateman missed a match clinching overhead by inches. Mody was able
to turn the tables and run off 5 consecutive games for the 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
win. Physicaly ill after the match Mody would not have been able to recover
in time for the scheduled finals. Fortunately, rains, darkness and
scheduling extended matches and with his finalist opponent, Norwich's Brian
Murphy, in the doubles events. The match was played at a later date. Murphy
advanced to the singles finals by defeating Norwich's Kevin Kassabian 6-7,
6-0, 3-0 in a match called by darkness with Murphy well in control after
losing a tight first set.
Murphy then teamed for doubles duty with New Berlin's Fred Fazio and won
their first 2 round robin matches. The Bateman's lost their first round
robin match then stunned the experienced Murphy/ Fazio team. They still
needed to win one more round to advance to the finals for a remath with
Murphy/Fazio and did just that. In the Finals which was also postponed by
rain team Bateman claimed the title after a 6-4, 6-7 split decision called
on darkness gave them the title on points and their earlier round robin win.
This past weekend the Mody vs Murphy singles final was completed with both
players well rested. The wind became a factor early and Mody breezed to an
easy first set, 6-0. Mody was up a late 5-3 break in the second but Murphy
employed morer patients and with Mody serving to win the match, Murphy came
within a point of evening the second set. Mody saved the break and took the
advantage with two pressure serves then endured a 10 plus ball rally as
Murphy's final defense sailed wide and the title was Mody's 6-0, 6-4. |
