RJ Tennis Community

Competition is fierce among the currently ranked tennis players. Pre-season rankings show surprisingly strong games for Dave 'YDS' Shea and Matt 'Yatt' Young. Another surprise is the solid game of Dan 'WTP' Clarke. The summer promises great matches.

MATCH RECAPS

April 22 1999 Carvajal vs. Lucas

After struggling to a victory over the Matchmasters, Lucas and Carvajal tee'd it up one more time to play out a set. Carvajal, fresh off a week in Saddlebrook Tennis Academy in sunny Florida was looking for confirmation of his previous win over Lucas on Feb 23. Lucas, was looking to define he still holds the upperhand and the previous victory was merely a mental lapse.

The set started out fairly even but Lucas jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead. The Lucas serve was sub-par but the net game was smooth. Carvajal was swinging his tenacious forehand for winners left and right, but was unable to capitalize early. Things began to change for Carvajal ... the forehand return of serve was blistering and his serve has improved due to sunny Florida.

Carvajal tied the score to 4-4. Lucas figured he'd better start consistently serving to the backhand side to avoid the formidable forehand return. The tactic worked. Lucas jumped to 5-4 and then broke Carvajal for the 6-4 victory. Carvajal was interviewed after the game, "I felt really good out there today. The forehand return was happening. Lucas was the better player for the the set's last two games." Lucas had some commentary of his own, "I thought Rob would take that set. I was playing awful during the Matchmasters match and Rob carried the victory. I guess I got fired up and was determined to maintain my #1 ranking."

April 18, 1999 Lucas/Carvajal vs. Cooper/Scicchitano

This was one great set of tennis. Each team had just dismantled their opponents in the NOVA Tennis league, now it on to face each other. #1 vs #2. Lucas/Carvajal were playing extremely good tennis. Cooper/Scicchitano were equally good. L/C jumped to the 3-1 lead quickly. As usual, C/S struggled back to 4-3, then 5-4. L/C closed the match out on the Lucas serve to win 6-4.

During postgame interviews, Lucas was overheard mumbling that his "tennis world is orbiting as it should." Carvajal was freely handing out complements over our opponents play. Cooper was spirited and looking forward to the next match, "Man, I get wait to get out C/L on the court again. I really feel we are getting close to beating them consistently." Scicchitano stated, "Yea, it's a typical match against those two. They're just too strong."

This was a defining moment for RJ Tennis. Carvajal/Lucas once again asserted their dominance over the challengers. I'm sure there are a number of great matches still left in the closet between these two hotly contested teams.

Mar 23, 1999 Carvajal/Lucas vs. (Some other team)

Lucas and Carvajal play near perfect tennis to close out the match 7-6(7-3), 6-4. The formidable opponents were impressive in the warm-ups. It required that Lucas and Carvajal jump out to a solid start. The opponents won the toss and elected to serve first.

Although the opponents opened the match serving with confidence, L/C were able to break right away and send a message that this match was not going to be business as usual for them. L/C kept the pressure on by staying focused and moving their feet. Lucas was temporarily dejected when a couple of close serves were called out. That was really the beginning of the end. Lucas turned up a notch and increased the pressure. Carvajal's forehand was on as he blasting his groundies with increased accuracy. The opponents were volleying to no avail.

Carvajal held serve all match with the help of Lucas's terrorizing volleys. "His net game was on fire tonight," Carvajal stated. "I believe that was one of our finest matches we have played," he continued.

Both players will be taking a week off and will resume the season when they get back from the separate trips.

Mar 16, 1999 Rob Carvajal vs.Paul Scicchitano

Carvajal loses to Schicctano yet again. Carvajal takes a step backwards in his comeback as he fell 4-6 to Schiccitano. Schiccitano jumped to a 3-0 lead and was relentless in his attack. Carvajal fought back to take command of the match at 4-3. But was not enough. Schiccitano took his time, played more conservatively, and waited to make his move. His patience paid off. Schiccitano turned the match around and won at 6-4.

"Yea, I am disappointed I lost the match," Carvajal stated, "I don't know what happened. I couldn't get into a rhythm and he played better today."

Mar 16, 1999 Ken Lucas vs.Paul Scicchitano

Paul was determined and motivated to win this match. In his corner was a poor young child in the pediatric wing of the hospital who was put there by a bully. A bully who kicks you when you're down, spits in your face, and lashes out with derogatory comments. Paul needed this victory for his friend ... revenge is so sweet.

Paul jumped to a commanding 5-2 lead in the set. He was hanging by a thread as Kenny missed shots by inches. Kenny's first serve was teetering around 15%, fortunately the second was 95%. Paul screamed at his friend to help put down the bully, to squash him, to dismantle him, to hurt him good. It was working, for awhile.

I think the pediatric patient fell asleep in Paul's corner. Kenny proceeded to hold serve three times and break serve twice to come away with a 7-5 victory. It was a good win for the bully.

Mar 9, 1999 Rob Carvajal vs. Paul Scicchitano

Although Carvajal was suffering from a hurt shoulder and was not able to count on his penetrating serves, he nevertheless, was able to dominate the match to a 6-0 victory. Scicchitano was dumbfounded. He didn't know what he could do to even get a point. As he went up to the net, Carvajal would pass him down the line. As Scicchitano would rally from the base line, Carvajal would move him left and right. Scicchitano was in a quandry.

"Paul is always a dangerous player," Carvajal said, "You just never know which Paul is going to show up." Carvajal has showed signs of renewing his dominance of old. Can he keep it up? Can he regain the control of his former days of glory? "These guys have gotten so much better!," Carvajal said in a post match interview, "Lucas, is still the guy to beat. Followed by Gary Keith, Kirk Cooper, and a healthy Dombrowski." "There are no more easy matches among us players. On any day, any one of us can win. However, I am working on changing that, " Carvajal stated in his closing remarks. When asked to expound on that last statement he retorted that he would just let his tennis game do his talking.

Mar 2, 1999 Lucas/Carvajal vs. Cooper/Scicchitano

Lucas/Carvajal reassert their dominance in the morning tennis match play. The two played near flawless tennis in beating Cooper/Scicchitano 6-1. It was power tennis at it's finest. Lucas destroying Cooper's and Scicchitano's weak second serve. Holding nothing back, Lucas instilled the fear of God to the net person. "Yea, Ken has been asking me where my game has been," Carvajal said, "I don't know where my game went, but it's back now!"

Mar 2, 1999 Ken Lucas vs. Kirk Cooper

Lucas and Cooper begin the 2nd rotation squaring off one another on side court. Lucas is feeling somewhat good, however his return of serve was awful in the previous rotation. Kirk looked confident as he stepped back to receive serve.

Flash, at least that's how long it took before Cooper was up 3-1. Lucas was overheard mumbling, "All I have to look forward to at this point is a 1-6 finish". Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the Lucas serve came back and the return of the Kirk Cooper formidable deuce side serve started to drop in the court. Lucas held serve the twice and broke Kirk once over the next three games ... 4-3 Lucas. Kirk held serve for 4-4. Lucas served a quick game to go up 5-4 and finished the set with a break of the Cooper serve.

Cooper was quoted, "I had him on the ropes, hitting him with lefts and rights but he wouldn't go down". In the end, Lucas jumped for joy as everything in the Lucas Tennis World was orbiting as it should be.

Mar 2, 1999 Rob Carvajal vs. Paul Scicchitano

Carvajal beats Scicchitano for the second time. Carvajal played an aggressive singles match winning 6-1. Scicchitano kept coming up to the net to no avail. Carvajal's passing shots were too penetrating. Scicchitano could not find a rhythm. "I have to concede that Paul's mind is not clearly on tennis at the moment. His wife is expecting their second child any moment now."

Feb 23, 1999 Ken Lucas vs. Rob Carvajal

Lucas jumped out to a quick and strong 4-1 lead over Carvajal. Carvajal looking a little dejected because he was not able to find a crack in the mighty armor of Lucas's game. However, Carvajal had to dig deep to try to slow down the run-away stampede. The only thing Carvajal could do was to try to force the issue. No safe playing. He had to go for each and every shot. If he didn't, Lucas would punish him from anywhere on the court. Carvajal had to stop chipping the return because the pressure was too great seeing this mammoth charging on the other side of the net.

With a few strategically placed returns Carvajal was able to get himself back into the game. Carvajal pulled even to 5-5. Feeling good Carvajal had to stay with his game plan and make Lucas play the great shots. Carvajal had to Lucas's winning streak of 1 year. Carvajal won at 7-5. The match could have easily been 6-3 for Lucas. A couple no-ad points went to Carvajal, and thus, helped to turn the tide.

With the victory by Carvajal he takes a big step forward in closing the gap. "I want to be the best player in the world," Carvajal told the reporters. "With matches like this I can do it," he continued. "Lucas is a great player and is still the best player. That is until I can beat him soundly. That may take a while yet," Carvajal concluded.

Jan 21, 1999 Ken Lucas vs. Rob Carvajal

An absolute war of a match with some really good tennis played on both sides of the net. Rob's deuce side forehand return of serve, lobs & chip shots, as well as overall court coverage was very good. Ken stayed in the match with decent serving and advancing to the net. The two hour match resulted in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win for Ken, that could have gone either way with the swing of a couple of points.

Jan 19, 1999 Paul Scicchitano vs. Ken Lucas

This match was a bit closer than last week with Ken winning critical points to break in the 9th game to go up 5-4. Ken closed the match out by holding serve 6-4. Paul's groundstrokes looked okay on the court, but he has to improve his approach shot before rushing the net. A deep corner shot with some pace on it is a good way to set up the advance to the net.

Jan 12, 1999 Paul Scicchitano vs. Rob Carvajal

Paul had his game well in hand as he smashed Rob's serves right back where they came from. Paul won the set 6-2 in a decisively lob-sided win. However, it was the first rotation for early tennis and I don't think Rob was awake. Still, Paul capitalized and took the match.

Jan 12, 1999 Paul Scicchitano vs. Ken Lucas

It was ugly. Ken overpowered Paul in a rout 6-2, 2-0 before time expired. It was a great match for Ken who had his game clicking.

December 6, Rob Carvajal vs. Ken Lucas

A furious set between Rob and Ken resulted in Ken winning the set 6-4 over the highly skilled Carvajal. It was a close set with each player holding serves (Ken just one more time than Rob). The set victories are leaning towards Lucas. Carvajal needs to start concentrating on the game at hand rather than the disturbances around him.

May 25, 1998 Dan Clarke vs. Ken Lucas

In a stunning upset, Clarke overcame a Lucas rally to win the set 6-3. The 2 earlier 10 point games were split. For now, Clarke moves up the ladder and enjoys the fame & fortune. However, there shall be a rematch.

May 17, 1998 Carvajal/Lucas vs The Stallers

These guys were ridiculous. Rob and I didn't pay $10 for court time to watch these mo's walk around the court, take change overs after every game, and delay the day away. Let's get on with the game ... shall we ! The stall tactics worked, the two of us just wanted to go home and finish watching the Bulls dismantle the Pacers. The final score 4-6, 0-6 was uncharacteristic of a Lucas/Carvajal match. We'll do much better next Friday.

FANS: The fans included Michelle, Patricia (Michelle's roommate) and my Mom. They were great, lending support and advice (as in, watch the ball, not the big screen tv through the glass).