June 26, 2021 – Having dropped the first set on 3 courts, defending Champion Team RDUTennis’ looked to be in danger of losing their first match of the 2021 season. But their women’s line of Nena Day and Tessie Choo came back strong to win their court and force the match into a Captain’s Choice Super-Tiebreak where Joanna Nalborska and Captain Brian Rosenthal won over White Dahlia’s Devan McCluskey and Captain William Noblitt to give Team RDUTennis a W to start the season.
In a match that was slated for Springdale Area Recreation Club with a nice after-match party waiting, the rains came and ultimately forced the decision to move the match to the indoor courts at Cary Tennis Park. A special thanks go out to the folks at Springdale who took this match date with less than 2 weeks notice and did an outstanding job getting ready to host. It is so disappointing that we were not able to play tennis for these folks last night. Also, special thanks to Sean Ferreira for coming out and opening up Cary Tennis Park’s indoor courts so we could get the match played.
The Men’s 2 court finished first giving Team White Dahlia the win behind the huge serves of Christian Welte and Matt Nicholson as they defeated RDU’s Carlos Garcia and Jay Lewandowski 6-1 6-3. Next off the courts was the Men’s 1 court where White Dahlia’s William Noblitt and Quentin Guichard played suberb tennis to down RDU’s Kyle Spencer and Cris James 6-3 6-2. Soon afterwards, RDU’s Nalborska and Rosenthal finished their win over White Dalia’s Julia Browne and Patrick Longest 6-1 6-4 to give Team RDUTennis its first point of the night.
With Team White Dahlia up 2-1, all attention turned to the Women’s court, where White Dahlia’s Kristen Kepler and Devan McCluskey had won the first set 6-1 and the teams battled in the second. RDU’s Day/Choo pulled out the second set 6-4 and maintained their momentum in the 3rd set tiebreak to win 10-6 and secure the team point needed to send the match into a Captain’s Choice Super-Tiebreak to decide the team winner.
It was an excellent display of tennis by both teams in the Super-Tiebreak. RDU’s Nalborska/Rosenthal took the early lead and was extending it, when White Dahlia’s McCluskey/Noblitt came back to tie at 9-all. RDU won the next two points to take the win and give their team the match win.
Both teams battled hard all night and the tennis was so fun to watch. Seems to be a sign that another great season of Raleigh Pro League tennis is ahead.