On Tuesday, the Chiswick men’s team headed to Whitton for the penultimate match of the league season, knowing that we needed good results in our last two matches to stave of the threat of relegation, but confident that we had a strong team.

Abraham teamed up with the agile and quick-thinking Niklas in the first pair; skipper Ed partnered big-hitting Barnaby as the second pair; and Frank flew in from Luxembourg (!) to pair up with Scott in a formidable looking 3rd pair.

In the first round, Niklas and Abraham immediately hit the ground running, beating opposition coaches Simon and Jonathan in a set of high quality tennis 6-2. Meanwhile Scott and Frank achieved a crucial win against opposition first pair, big-serving Kieran and quick-moving Jed, 6-4. Ed and Barnaby faced opposition 3rd pair Scott (another Scott) and Daniel but unfortunately Ed started slowly, wasting a number of volleys, and we lost 3-6.

Score after the 1st round: Whitton 2- Chiswick 4.

In the second round, all three Chiswick pairs won their sets. Barnaby and Ed beat Kieran and Jed 6-3, thanks partly to a series of double faults by Jed. Abraham and Niklas won a close set against Scott and Daniel 7-5 in a tough match, Scott’s high-percentage/ low risk tennis combining with Daniel’s ability at the net making them awkward opponents. Scott and Frank also combined superbly against Simon and Jonathan in an even tighter set, which went to a tiebreak. A dodgy call by Simon at 6-6 on a baseline shot did not ruffle the Chiswick players, who won the next 3 points and took the set 7-6.

Score after the second round: Whitton 2- Chiswick 10.

In the final round, Frank and Scott raised their game even further, beating (the other) Scott and Daniel 6-0, 6-1 with ease. Abraham and Niklas’s opponents Jed and Kieran raised their game from the previous two sets enough to share the points, the Whitton players winning the first set 6-3 and our guys taking the final set by the same score. Barnaby and Ed had a close and rather testy match against Simon and Jonathan, with a couple of contested line calls, but the match was entertaining nonetheless, with both pairs seeking to get to the net and take chances. The Whitton players just won a long first first set 6-4. As the second set got underway under floodlights, the rest of the players had finished and started tucking into the pizzas. The Whitton players went 4-1 up, but the Chiswick guys came back to 4-4 and were serving at 40-30 when the lights cut out.

Final score: Whitton 7- Chiswick 17.

Those players who were left settled down to their own supper and amiably discussed various tennis matters, including Junior Wimbledon and the Middlesex Summer League, before heading home. 

Well played team! This was an excellent performance and a great result. In a match with a lot of close sets, the Chiswick players mostly won the close ones- and also won a few easy ones too! Our third pair, Frank and Scott, were superb and won all their sets, Frank’s solid groundstrokes and decision making at the net combining really well with Scott’s net-poaching style. Abraham and Niklas played some wonderful tennis, and I was particularly impressed with Niklas’s finishing of points, finding gaps down the middle and in the tramlines. Barnaby served really well and hit some massive winning returns down the line, and Ed had some success serving and volleying towards the end of the match. It’s very hard to choose one Man of the Match because both Niklas and Frank deserve it, but if you really press me I think I have to name Frank on the basis that he and Scott won every one of their sets- plus he flew in from Luxembourg to play the match- what fantastic commitment! Well played everybody, and especially Niklas and Frank!

Our final match of the season will be a home match against Hartswood on Thursday 3rd August. There are still various permutations, but it’s already clear that if we beat Hartswood by any margin (even 13-11), we will be safe from relegation, even if Hartswood beat St Mary’s 24-0 (which is actually a distinct possibility).

See league table: 

https://competitions.lta.org.uk/sport/draw.aspx?id=F4B8AD26-5A73-4AFC-AA40-EDF8A97100C8&draw=60