Yes, they had to prove themselves. Yes, they did. After their loss in the Chicago Charities, the #1 in the Nation and National Champs, Johan Du Randt and Mark Parsons, showed everyone why they are still the best of the best.
Some minor surprises and some confirmations this past weekend at the Sound Shore Invitational. In today’s men’s platform tennis world it is almost impossible to predict how is going to win. Even Du Randt-Parsons lost a match a couple of days ago! Whoever thinks he can predict paddle matches, should find another hobby… hint, hint PTP?
Back to Sound Shore. Du Randt-Parsons beat Juan Arraya and Alex Bancila 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in a very entertaining final. Yes, Arraya-Bancila are back together. Jonason moved to Florida so good-bye paddle for him and now Arraya-Bancila are back.
Let’s start off with the round of 16s. Bottom half: Walk in the park for Du Randt-Parsons with their 6-1, 6-1 win over Bonfigli-Ferrin. Mavrin-Misitrano took down Bostrom-Easterbrook 6-4, 6-0. Grangeiro-Wilkinson win a battle over Hiscox-Morneau 7-5 in the third. Rothschild-Schmitt win by injury default when Goncalves-Graham default before going on court.
Top half: Derose-Lubow 7-5, 6-2 over a pair of newcomers, Jim Lipinsky and Thommas de Liefde. Arraya-Bancila 6-0, 6-2 in less than 40 minutes over Ruppert-Wright. Broderick-Cosimano were too much for Chowdhury-Stein and a quick 6-3, 6-2 win puts the New Jersey duo in the next round. The last match in the 16s was the “surprise” of the day. LePivert-Stulac were coming from a somehow weak start of the season while Cochrane-Estes discovered the Du Randt-Parsons kryptonite in Chicago. Who won? LePivert-Stulac 6-3, 6-2.
Quarter finals were now set. Arraya-Bancila continued their winning ways and beat Derose-Lubow 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Why did they start playing Arraya after winning the first set is a question for Steve Derose. Lubow still doesn’t know why. Broderick-Cosimano took down LePivert-Stulac 6-3, 7-6 and also got their tickets for the semis. Du Randt-Parsons 6-0, 6-3 over Mavrin-Misitrano in a 5 minutes first set and a somehow close second set. Last match to finish was the second hottest team of the year: Grangeiro-Wilkinson (soon to be top 5) defeated Rothschild-Schmitt 6-3, 7-5.
Now it was time for the semis. Arraya-Bancila were on a roll and took care of business with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Broderick-Cosimano. The bottom half featured the two hottest teams of the moment. The Southafrican-Canadian duo was too hot for the Brazilian-Irish duo. 6-1, 6-3 victory for Du Randt-Parsons and the rest is history.
What’s next for the Nationals Champs? More paddle, more wins. What’s next for the rest? Maybe find the secret formula Cochrane-Estes discovered in Chicago or otherwise hope to be on the other half of the draw.
