Already down a set to Ray Kraft and Barbie Prince, and having lost the first game in the second set, the doubles duo of Mary Lou Roush and Brad Kelley could sense if their serve was broken in the next game, it would be tough to comeback and win.
Utilizing all their experience and savvy, Roush and Kelley fended off three break points to win the pivotal game and tie the match 1-1. By holding serve, Roush and Kelley stopped Kraft and Prince’s momentum and that hold provided the springboard for them to win the next five out six games to win the second set. The pair then swept the final set to capture the 70-plus Lima Area Tennis Association Mixed Doubles Championship over Kraft and Prince, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, at the Westwood Tennis and Fitness facility Sunday.
“It was a weird match,” Kelley said. “They played a flawless first set so then you figure the law of averages has to catch up eventually and then they made some mistakes. I don’t know what happened in the third set.”
Kelley said securing that second game proved to be a huge momentum swing for him and Roush.
“I think we played a little better and capitalized on their weaknesses which they didn’t exhibit at all in the first set. It was a fun.”
The pair of Roush and Kelley, who finished second last year, returned to the top spot of the mixed doubles title that they won in 2014. It was tabbed the 90-and-over division that year.
Kraft said Roush and Kelley are hard to beat because they are so consistent. He also applauded Kelley’s effort at the net and Roush’s ability to place key lobs just inside the baseline that continually kept Kraft and Prince off balance and also forced a number of unforced errors by them in the second and third sets.
“They were very consistent and we started missing some shots and it just kind of avalanched from there,” Kraft said. “Mary Lou held serve and from that game on, like I said, it was kind of an avalanche and they played really good at the end.”
The win for Roush capped off a fruitful LATA tournament for her. Roush captured the 35-and-over singles title, the doubles title in the 70-plus divison with Diane French and completed the trifecta with the mixed doubles victory.
Roush gave kudos to Prince and Kraft for their effort and said they displayed the competitive spirit that exemplified the type of play she witnessed in the tournament this year.
“The second set was pivotal,” Roush said. “It threw it in my favor because it is a mental thing and having that tournament toughness that I have, having played for a few years, you develop a confidence that you can get one more point than them. And after that it flows.”
Roush added that she was encouraged by the young players who came out to watch the competition this year and challenged the high school girls who play to participate in next year’s event.
The 70-plus Mixed Doubles competition was the featured match due to the team of Emerson Hager and Madison Watt forfeiting the mixed doubles open division giving the pair of Jeff Brown and Andrea Arango-Brown the title.
This is Arango-Brown’s second consecutive title after winning the mixed doubles open title last year with Jeff Brown.
The consolation matches also proved to be three-set thrillers. In the mixed doubles open consolation match, the duo of Victor Wei and Alotus Wei defeated Corey Diroll and Chelsea Myers 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. In the mixed doubles 70-plus consolation, Brad Brehm and Desrene Brown defeated Mike Klock and Cindy Kesner 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Prior to the matches, a new plaque honoring past members of the LATA board was unveiled by Ron Huber, Joan Collar and Danette Swick. The plaque, which is replacing the weather worn one that used to be at the Collett Street Tennis Courts, will be displayed at the Westwood Tennis and Fitness facility.
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