Clarke/Kelly vs. Carvajal/Lucas
Best of 7 Championship of the Universe

Match #1
Saturday October 29, 2001. Truro Community Center Tennis Courts

The first of the "Best of 7" tennis matches for the Golden Championship of the Universe Crown took place on a beautiful afternoon. Cool temperatures, a light breeze and strong sun shone down court #1 as the four competitors began to play. 

The match started off with incredibly good tennis (and quite shocking to this beat reporter) with all four players holding serve. Even the weak slicing Kelly serve was enough to win his service game. The Clarke serve was formidable, hard & flat or hard with a huge kick to the backhand. Ground-strokes were pummeling back and forth, great hustle was shown, and experienced net play hammered acute angle winners. Kelly/Clarke were able to put their best tennis hats forth to battle to a 4-4 tie in the first set.

The disappointment began in the crucial 9th game of the set. Losing serve in the 9th game means your done. Kelly's slicing 53mph serve wasn't able to get the job done, as both Carvajal and Lucas hammered returns deep into the corner. Kelly was forced to awkwardly hit a ground-stroke at his feet, thus producing either a net ball or an easy put away volley by Lucas/Carvajal. Lucas/Carvajal easily held serve to finish the first set 6-4.

Reality finally emerged in the second set as Carvajal/Lucas jumped to a quick 4-0 lead. Both the Clarke and Kelly serves were dwindling, hustle was diminishing, and the fire dwindled in their eyes. Clarke was able to hold serve, then a surprising break of the Lucas serve gave Clarke/Kelly life at 2-4. However, another break of Kelly's serve (Kelly held 1 out of 4 service games) and a Carvajal hold gave the team of Carvajal/Lucas the 6-4, 6-2 win.

This is only the first of a best-of-seven competition between the doubles team. Excellent tennis is still to be played this fall. For now, Carvajal/Lucas reign supreme.