Gusty Breezes Mix Up May Mostly-Mixed

The RSTC May tournament was mostly mixed doubles, with changing partners. There were a couple of men's doubles matches, so everyone got to play 5 matches each during the day. As the crisp morning heated up, so did the action on the courts. Four southpaws were on the Shorebird Courts, adding their signature lefty spins to the mix. The competition was close but, towards the end of the morning, gusty breezes separated the best from the rest. Irene Muzio and Martin Uberlacker took first place -- the duo teamed up and took the final match decisively to earn the win with 25 games each. Bill Flaherty and John Hogan tied for the men's second place spot with 24 games apiece and Karen Brodersen and Robin George tied for the women's second place spot with 23 games apiece.

The ever-intrepid Irene Muzio stretches for a return.
Martin Uiberlacker live in your living room!

The groaning board scene at Marvin Gardens.


The players then headed to Marvin Gardens for a lunch social. The Club picked up the drinks tab so we washed down our burgers, salads, and pizza with lots of good beer. Tournament Director Michael Garb awarded prizes of orchids to the ladies and bottles of wine to the gentlemen.

Our next open play is Sunday June 10 and our next tournament is Saturday, June 16.

Special thanks to Karen Broderson for doing dual duty as correspondent and photographer.

Call for Singles Players

There has been some interest expressed about playing singles by a growing number of people. If enough players are involved a challenge ladder can be organized, but at the very least we can get some kind of list together of likely suspects so that we can call for a game.

If you are one of those people, send an email (subject = "RSTC Singles") with contact info, self-rating and preferred days and times to rstc.info@gmail.com. We'll circulate a list to those who respond.

Pre-Mother's Day Open Play

This Saturday morning at Shorebird, 9 AM to 1:30 PM.

The May Mixed-Doubles Tournament is the following Saturday, the 19th.

Request Follow Up: Court in Session

Joey Delgado forwarded a few photos from his recent coaching session with the kids. He thanks everyone who donated the much-needed racquets and balls to the these kids. He reports they are very excited about the game.

Grass? Clay? Let's split the diff...

From the Lakeland (FL) Register...

Nadal Nips Federer On Half-Clay, Half-Grass

PALMA DE MALLORCA, Balearic Islands
The King of Clay ruled in this oddest of matches between the two best players in tennis. Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (10), in an exhibition Wednesday on a half-grass, half-clay court when the top-ranked Swiss failed to reach a forehand that took a funny bounce across the green side. "We're used to playing long, hard games with a lot of tension involved," Federer said. "So it's fun to play on this half-grass, half-clay surface."

Nadal came into the match with a record 72 straight wins on clay. Federer hasn't lost on grass in four years - a 48-match run that includes four straight Wimbledon titles.

"It was a long match, with many changes of pace and with little time to adapt," Nadal said. "My feet are suffering as a price of having to adapt to the grass."

Federer was leading 4-1 in the tiebreaker before Nadal rallied. After the Spaniard double-faulted while ahead 6-5, the players traded match points. Nadal then hit three of the final four winners from the clay side before a sellout crowd of about 7,000.

After the players split the first two sets, the jokes dissipated and both players went for the win. Nadal displayed his trademark fist-pump for the first time after Federer's forehand landed long on the clay for a 4-3 lead. Both players held serve to force the tiebreaker, with Nadal dominating the baseline and Federer the net.