CricSim Tennis: Cribb Cup Quarterfinals

Carn Asia!

 

RG Cribb Cup - England vs. Victoria

Victoria's No. 1 Alistair Son has suffered a disappointing defeat to Eddie Morris in the first tie of the RG Cribb Cup quarterfinal in London between England and Victoria.

Despite his recent good form, Son fell apart in the final two sets after a competitive start against Eddie Morris. The Englishman was highly impressive against a man who had played some quality tennis as of late, and did enough to take the first set 6-4.

But Son, as expected, fought back well in the second set, with his serve-and-volley game causing Morris troubles. The veteran showed deft touch to approach the net with a fantastic low volley to secure the set 6-4 with his first break of the match.

Little did he expect, however, that was the end of his contribution to the match, as Morris went on an incredible hot streak of winners in one of the most bizarre ends to a match.

Son complained of hamstring tightness in the middle of the fourth set, but by then the damage was well and truly done as Morris sent England ahead 1-0 with a stunning 6-4, 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 win.

 

Alistair 'Tipsy' Son.

 

RG Cribb Cup - Asia vs. New South Wales

Asia's Ritwick Chowdhuri has led his team to a 1-0 lead over New South Wales following an upset win over Bogotá champion Alex O'Driscoll in Colombo.

With the historic Asian side making its team tennis debut, Chowdhuri had to deal with an in-form O'Driscoll who had consistently produced quality tennis in his matches thus far.

In a tight start, it was O'Driscoll who got the better of Chowdhuri in the first set tiebreaker, with his composure under pressure allowing him to get a quick start and take the breaker 7-1.

Things, however, took a turn for the worse for O'Driscoll in the second set, as Chowdhuri lifted his return game substantially to cause him consistent troubles. O'Driscoll, down a couple of breaks early, seemed to drift in-and-out of the set at the worst possible times, as Chowdhuri inspired his adopted home crowd to take the set 6-1.

O'Driscoll wasn't about to give the game away that easily, though, and had a look at two break points on the Chowdhuri serve early in the third. To his credit, though, Chowdhuri held strong, and at 5-5 took the first chance granted to him as he wrongfooted O'Driscoll with an inside out forehand and then put the resulting backhand away with ease.

Unable to find his way back into the set, O'Driscoll needed to start the fourth strongly, but again found himself in trouble on serve. Chowdhuri's break left the New South Welshman playing catch up, which he finally did with the score at 3-4. Unfortunately for him, though, Chowdhuri wrestled the service break back in the very next game, and made no mistake when serving for the match, as he secured a 1-0 lead with his 6-7(1), 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 win.

 

RG Cribb Cup - England vs. Victoria

Victoria have leveled their RG Cribb Cup quarterfinal against England at 1-1, following veteran Matt James' incredible comeback to defeat Ezequiel Ames.

In front of his home crowd, Ames looked a class about the fighter James as he raced to a two-sets to love lead with a pair of comfortable sets.

But James, known for his never-say-die attitude, was not going to go down without a fight, as he showed great resilience to save himself from a potentially dire service break in the third and claim his first break of the Ames serve to take the third set 6-4.

The wind was swinging his way, and soon after he had sent the match to a decider with a late service break which, importantly, allowed him to serve first in the fifth and final set.

There it was tit-for-tat as both players faced down a number of break points to hold six games a piece. James again fought back from 0-30 down in the thirteenth game to move ahead 7-6 with a wonderful serve-and-volley move, before Ames gave him a chance as he missed the line with a backhand on the rise.

With two match points up his sleeve, James attacked an Ames first serve and just caught the net - the ball wrongfooting the Englishman to secure the huge 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 8-6 win.