Justin Sherring left with much to ponder after failing to convert his chances"Sometimes you just have to smile and say "too good" were Eatons words whilst playing a champions tie break against Willis in singles yesterday at the home of touchtennis. How prophetic those words would prove to be no one but Nostradamus could've imagined.A late call from Justin Sherring (world number FIVE) and a doubles match was on. He and Eaton took on the GOAT and Willis at a best of three set doubles match. With darkness encompassing and the floodlights casting an eerie glow on the stadium court, Willis and Ahmad set about unravelling the one-dimensional strategy of their opponents.In less than 15 minutes the first set was over. Ahmad ripping through Eaton's kick serve and Willis pouncing at the net set the tone with an early break. In no time at all the second set had begun. Ahmad quickly conferred with his partner and a new plan was conceived. Eager to see how the new pairing would perform under pressure at the US Open they elected to try out a rope-a-dope system and give their opponents a set and an opportunity to serve for the match twice."Its not risky. I knew they couldnt hurt us off the ground so even if they served for the match I always felt like we could claw it back. I just wanted to prove it to myself and my partner going in to the Open." commented Ahmad after the match. Normally a man of few words, the press room were stunned when he spoke out. Big risk, but equally big rewards."I had the GOAT in my corner. How on earth could we lose?" Added Willis.At 5-4 and serving matchpoint Sherring asked for a drink break as something was caught in his throat. His opponents whispered two words that will stay with him for many years to come. "MAN UP." A fault ensued and the break back was Willis and Ahmads. A further break and Eaton was now left with the task of closing out the match.At 30-0 the Eaton Sherring team were high fiving and narrating points as they played. But Willis and Ahmad found their triumphalism and unnecessary chit chat between points rather grating and decided to pounce. At 30-40 Ahmad played his trademark dirtball return and forced the error that would send the match into a concluding tie-break.Despite a 2-0 lead Eaton's rifles misfired and Justin was unable to get the ball just in when it mattered. Serving into the net at 5-5 left Ahmad with a point to serve it out. A giant kick serve followed by an inside out forehand from Ahmad gave Willis a poachable ball at the net which he fired at the 40 year olds feet and forced the error. Game Set and Match Willis/Ahmad!
6 years later and this is what the game morphed into. More professional sure, but still a massive amount of fun!
Back in the days when there were only a handful of players............now there are 251 of us and growing daily.Great memories
A career that began in 2003 with the first Masters Cup Held on New Years Eve, it seems fitting that Rashid Ahmad - considered by pundits to be the Greatest Of All Time - should end his career at the Masters Cup 2010. For the 8 years that Ahmad has been on the tour 5 of them were finished as the number 1.Number one for a record 238 weeks fellow players began calling him the G.O.A.T. No other player could boast such incredible stats.In the Open era his record was 15 consecutive Grand Slam appearances. A testament to his fitness regime and strict diet of Nicotine and Caffeine! KFC was also high on his list of importance when asked about how he'd managed to remain fit for such an incredibly extended period. Having previously been a fan of the golden arches, Nick Jacques (current No.1) persuaded Ahmad to change his diet to include the legendary Zinger Burger after consuming a bargain bucket. In the amateur era Ahmad won 20 Grand slams. 4 season ending Masters Cups, and 16 Masters Series titles. His most famous Masters Cup win came against two drunks on New Years eve in 2003 when Ahmad was stone cold sober. His opponents unable to walk were beaten soundly. This set the tone for Ahmad's reign. It became clear that offering opponents copious amounts of alcohol before tournaments had a direct effect on his winning record. A legitimate tactic and one he stood by for years, The G.O.A.T was able to dominate for years against his unfocussed and mentally weakened opponents.Other players led the way with praise for the former number 1 when after deep thought and continued calls by the press for him to be the G.O.O.T (Go Out On Top) he formally announced that he would retire at the end of this season from singles. What his fellow players have been saying:Don't be sad! The hours of pleasure that the GOAT has given us over the years with his on-court exuberance, outrageous enthusiasm and never ending 'commentary' will be no more.As the infamous Don King once said 'Martin Luther King took us to the mountain top, I want to take us to thebank'. The GOAT has taken our great sport to the brink of global awareness, it is now that his off-court skills, flair and magic are needed to ensure that touchtennis reaches every corner of the modern world.......that every child, man and woman has the chance to cry the words 'EPIC! JUSTICE! GREASEBALL! and perhaps our favourite 'MAN UP'! Yes..........the dream of global domination of the 'one last tie-break to 10 before you go' is a realistic aim, now that the very founder of everything we love about this sport becomes a universal figurehead in the same way that Ali is boxing, Pele is football, Comaneci is gymnastics.......Ahmad is touchtennis! Transcend the sport we beg...........breakfast in Washington,lunch in Beijing but always come home and have supper in Claygate so that you may continue to pass on your wisdom and passion to those who love you and who will miss you the most....your touchtennis brothers andsisters....we are eternally grateful! Justin SherringDirector of TennisWeybridge Tennis AcademyIt is very sad to see one of the greatest on the sport to retire andleave the way to the new generation... He could still play and win buthas decided to focus on other things and that is fair enough... We willmiss him on court.Marcos AngeliniFormer World No.1
Jordan Bull won his first title on the specially laid grass courts at eastbourne's Devonshire Park Club.Matt Golledge playing in his second final of the day was unable to conjure up any of the magic that carried him and Jaconelli to the doubles title against Justin Sherring and Rashid Ahmad.Bull disposed of Jaconelli, Sherring and Golledge in stunning form en route to the trophy and is now almost certainly guaranteed a top ten finish this year after picking up 300 points and £100.00 in prize money.New players signed up in droves to play and the colossal surge of this sport seems to have taken hold of Sussex now as well.Golledge meanwhile can rest better knowing he collected £75.00 in prize money along with snatching back his 4th spot that was momentarily held by Justin Sherring.All eyes are now on the US Open at the NTC!
You can still sign up for a spot for tomorrows Devonshire Park touchtennis tournament. Follow the link below and get yourself playing on grass and a shot at some of the £330.00 of prize money available:http://www.tennisuk.net/TEMS/TourDetail.aspx?tid=101
Elliott Mould is just one title shy of the all time open era record of 5 titles in one season. He is tied now with Marcos Angelini with 4 titles in a single season and seems destined to surpass that after a phenomenal display of power, accuracy and counter-punching to dismantle Nick jacques in straight sets 4-1 4-0.Mould now has career earnings of almost £800.00 which is stunning for a man that just started playing the game in January this year.With 2 slams and 2 masters titles one has to wonder if anyone will be able to stop him at the US Open."Yeah I just got outplayed" was Jacques' comment after the match.Well, that makes you and everyone else today!
28 LTA Staff had never played touchtennis until last night but many of them are sure to play again after the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton held its inaugural event to promote the sport and raise awareness in general of this new breed of the game.With music blaring in the background, barbecued burgers smoking and (soft) drinks flowing there was a carnival atmosphere at the Centre of Excellence where 32 players took to court.Matt Byford served and volleyed his way through the group stages and despite losing one match he went through on points difference. In the same group, World No.5 Justin Sherring also managed 2 wins. But in the group of death, 2 wins alone weren’t enough. One more point would’ve sealed it for Sherring but a missed smash cost him his place in the quarter-finals.Judith Bunn had the pleasure of playing Byford in the quarter-finals having stormed through her group 3 and 0. Other winners were Abbie Lench, Sophie Curthoys, John Golding, Ian Rudkin and Sam Richardson each of whom went through with a perfect 3 and 0 win/loss ratio.The most stunning turnout in group 7 however was Rashid Ahmad’s crushing defeat by Steven Tart. Ahmad was practically taken apart by the grind of his younger opponent.Having lost his first match 10-8 to Will Solomon who at one point was 6-2 down, the group was sealed when Steven Tart then beat Adam Moulder 10-9.Moulder won the Sportsman of the Tournament Award for not smashing a racquet despite losing two matches in sudden death shoot-outs.The Committee – shortly after the event – received a complaint from Ahmad’s agent about the 5 time All England Champion being relegated to “the gravyard” court. With no one on hand to call Ahmad to court he was also 15 minutes late for his match and some members of the crowd booed when he finally walked on court.“Its not the way champions should be treated. Richardson organised this tournament and I’ve made an official complaint. No one else at this tournament holds a Masters Cup or a slam trophy and I’ve got over 20 in my cabinet so I felt I should be afforded the courtesy of transport to the court at least, if they weren’t going to put me on centre court. I believe I’ve earned that right. “Richardson meanwhile, was on court greasing his way past Abbie Lench to make his first semi-final appearance at a touchtennis tournament. Lench tried valiantly to stem the flow of unforced errors but unfortunately her opponent’s incessant shouting and unnecessary gestures of triumphalism put her off her stride. A complaint was also received anonymously about Richardson unsportsmanlike conduct! Byford awaited in the semi finals and the silent assassin took Richardson apart for the loss of just 2 games. In the other side of the draw, John Golding was the true surprise package and with his inimitable style served and volleyed his way through Sophie Curthoys and Ian Rudkin. Although Curthoys pushed him hard, the slice backhand that at times was Rosewallian, undid her efforts during their baseline exchanges.Byford cam out swinging in the final. Slamming first and second serves down at equal pace it appeared a foregone conclusion that he’s lift the title. Golding however, re-wrote the script 4 times until a decisive break at 4-4 left Byford serving for the title. And despite a watching helplessly as a beautiful running sliced backhand pass shot by him, Byford held his nerve and served out the set 6-4.Congratulations to John Golding, Ian Rudkin, Judith Bunn, Sophie Curthoys, Abbie Lench and Steven Tart who all moved up the rankings to inside the top 100! With the US Open on September 12th at the National Tennis Centre, one wonders how many of these will crack the top 50 by the end of the season.................................Press coverage:http://tennishead.net/blogs/Tennishead-Blog/551526/small_court_game_making_big_impact.html
