The match was moved indoors before it started do to the threat of rain. Unfortunately, the Lifetime Club is NOT a fan friendly club. Viewing matches indoors is not a good experience for the fans. Anyway, our team went up 5-2 in the first when this guy.....
Made several bad rulings on rules he DID NOT know, his inexperience changed the match and nearly the outcome. Why the supervisor standing behind him would have allowed him to chair such and important match is mind boggling! Let me try to explain.....
It is deuce, no add scoring with Natalie serving. They play out the entire deuce point and Natalie and Ricky win it. They go to pick up balls to give to opponents for their serve.....the opponents argue with the chair....guy pictured above....that at some point during that deuce point Ricky hit the net. And that it was their (opponent's) point and game. The chair said there was a hit of the net and changed it to the opponents getting the game. UNBELIEVABLE! Our team approached and argued that the point continued....the chair (guy pictured above) didn't not stop the point and the point was played and finished out....therefore OUR point. Of course the chair umpire was clueless and gave the opponents the game....Natalie asked for the Supervisor (lady in pic, who of course was no where to be found when this took place) to come to the court for clarification of the rules. The chair umpire refused to call the supervisor....Natalie requested several times to no avail. A CLUELESS CHAIR UMPIRE!~
First, let me say that Natalie and Ricky were absolute correct that it was their point because the chair did not stop the point when he heard/saw the net hit by Ricky. Second, his denial to call the supervisor per the request of a player was also against the rules. And a brief mention that on several line calls, the opponents bullied him and got him to change the calls. Pathetic umpiring....it is guys/ladies like him that give GREAT chair umpires a bad name.
Our team lost the next 3 games in a row....because the guy pictured above didn't do his job well and it upset our team. A game changer....an umpire's lack of knowledge....RIDICULOUS! Having to play a breaker at 6 all in the first, our team turned it on and won in 7-0. Too bad they had 3 opponents out there....the two opposite the net and the one sitting in the umpire's chair.
In the second set, our team didn't maintain the aggressiveness used in the breaker. Therefore, they lost the second 3-6. Forcing a breaker in lieu of the third set. Natalie and Ricky went down 0-3 in the breaker, mostly from trying to hit a winner vs. playing the point to develop a winner. Anyway, they battled back to 9 all with Natalie serving. The female opponent was the victim of Natalie's awesome serving for us to go up 10-9. Then serving to the male, who was a jerk to Natalie and partner two years ago at this tourney.....Natalie hit a big first serve that the guy couldn't handle and it went right into the bottom of the net. OOOOoooo yea, how sweet it was! WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!
Our team had a great cheering section, we thank ....Ed, Jason, AJ, Jasmine, Abby, Diana, Alex, Hunter, as well as about 12 peeps related to Ricky and his family. Was a lot of fun watching Natalie and Ricky develop into a solid dubs team.
Now what does all this mean....well let me try to explain! Our team will go to Nationals in New Heaven, CT in August. They will be one of thirteen teams to play a draw of 16. The winner of said Nationals will receive a wild card into the US Open, Mixed Doubles Main Draw. So that's fun!~
Well, here are Our Champions!
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| Natalie and Ricky! |
