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Thursday, May 03, 2007

Sayers & Smith Reach Qtr Final of World Doubles

Somewhat belatedly please see this excellent coverage of Bryn and
Ricardo's performance in the World Doubles in Boston.

Quarter-Final: (4) Gunn & Rich Smith vs. Sayers & Ricardo Smith 6-4, 6-2, 6-1

In what the pundits had called the closest match of the day, No. 4 seeds Rich Smith and Ruaraidh 'Wesson' Gunn took the court against a 'team for the future' Ricardo Smith and Bryn Sayers. In front of a packed Hamlen room, this much anticipated match had all the prerequisites for a classic - powerful forcing, great retrieving, outrageous volleying and lightning exchanges. The younger pair chose the interesting time of 0-5 on the scoreboard to open their account, but the 4 games they rattled off in that set (with points for 5-5) to slightly unnerve the seeded team, turned out to be the most they garnered in any set. Gunn was sublime in defence and considered attack and Newport head pro Smith brought his A-game to this big event, and they shut down any aspirations Sayers & Smith had of going to the later stages of the tournament by repeatedly overcoming deficits in games and making their opponents earn every point. Great tennis, but unfortunately more one-sided than hoped, Gunn & Smith 6/4 6/2 6/1.