RJ Tennis Community
Spring 2000

Year 2000 looks to be a strong year for the FUBAR/RJ Tennis team. We have a good team this year and hope to make the best of it.

MATCH RECAPS

March 7 - Kenny vs Rob / Tony

It's great to be back.  Forget the baseline, forget the groundstrokes, the key to victory is the Serve / Volley and Chip / Charge.   This new tactic has revitalized the Lucas game.  This morning Kenny took sets from both Rob and Tony 6-3 apiece.

There are many battles fought on the tennis courts, the question is "Who will win the war?"

Rob's Comments:

That was a nice match we played this morning. I am disappointed that I lost. However, I don't think this is one match that I lost. You beat me. Not by much though. We both played a very well thought out match. If you had stayed back, I believe I would have destroyed you. I don't say that jokingly either.

It was the serve and volley pressure that you kept up.  Brilliant! Well executed! I have to develop the slice return down low. I anticipate that I will be losing a few more matches until I can get that into my arsenal.  That will be the only thing that I can do to equalize the serve and volley.

Although I hate to lose, I thought it was a good match. Great job!

March 2 - Paul vs Kenny

Kenny's Comments:

The previous two sets are a blur, a faint memory and history. Now is the only time that matters. It is in the Now then Kenny has
reclaimed his dominating form on the tennis court. Kenny won a lopsided 6-0 victory in 20 minutes this morning.

There is no 3000, there are no more loses, there is only triumph. Let the games begin.

Paul's Comments:

FOUR SEASONS TENNIS CLUB -- Following back to back upset victories over Kenny, Paul was beginning to feel as though the one-time amateur legend would be his bitch for life.

Kenny managed to recapture some of his past glory, however, by surprising Paul with a one-set sweep in a controversial morning match here on Thursday. A gleeful Kenny boldly proclaimed the victory as his return to dominance on the Northern Virginia amateur tennis circuit but that remained to be seen.

"It's true that Kenny dominated this morning, but I was led to believe that we were just playing a few practice games not a match," Paul, countered. "I ate a blueberry bagel right before we took the court. Would any athlete do that if they were playing a real match?"

February 29, 2000  Carvajal/Lucas vs. Strokemasters I

It was a grudge match that started with an horrendous line call "OUT" when the ball clearly hit the outside half of the line.  The Strokemasters made a bad call which resulted in the game.  It was a heated battle from this point forward.  The bandana guy threw extra wood on the fire by hitting two balls at Lucas, one of which connected at the knee (it didn't hurt).   Lucas/Carvajal compensated for the bad line call and the body shots by firing two tremendous strokes right at the bandana guy.  Lucas shot was a pop-up near the net:   Lucas jumped to his left to give a clear shot crosscourt at the bandana guy ... and wham, it was a solid stroke to the outside of the braced knee.  Carvajal also cracked an overhead to the same leg around the ankle. 

Through all the heat, fumes and testosterone, the score ended in a tie 4-6, 7-5, (6-6) tie-breaker.  The tie-breaker was not completed due to time constraints.  The captain of the other team did not want to finish match.

Fans included Barbara and Jean Anne.

SUPER TUESDAY !!!!

It was Super Tuesday for Rob & Paul today.  Each of them took a turn at handing Kenny defeats with one-set victories.  Rob saved one match point squeaked out a victory 6-6 (7-5).  Paul played abovev & beyond his years (well, that's not possible) ... no, above & beyond his skills to win an uncharacteristically lopsided 6-2 victory. This was Paul's second set in a row that he has punished Kenny at his own game.  The Paul approach/volley game seemed to know no bounds, as he hit approach after approach, then volley after volley to win the point.

Of course Kenny had an explanation for the loss to Paul & Rob:

Kenny's Explanation: Ugh. I played like crap. HOWEVER, both you and Paul   played very well.  I just didn't take advantage of some opportunities.

It took a bit getting used to Rob's groundstrokes, as  opposed to Bob's.  Rob hits the ball much harder and I had to adjust my  timing. I haven't   played singles with a hard hitter in awhile. I'll do better next time.

As for Paul, I've never seen him play as well as he did. His approach/volley game was impressive. I was thoroughly taken aback by it. Also, for some reason I sliced the ball a lot more than usual.  Nowadays, I try to almost never slice. Today, I  sliced way too much.

It was a good victory for the both of you. I'm glad  Barbara and myself  beat you two, that felt good. I bet Barbara was  very pumped about it as well.

Humbly,
Kenny

Rob being his gracious humble self also had an explanation for his set victory:

Rob Carvajal wrote:

I am now talking to you as your coach. So please listen up. If I had been on the sidelines and had been watching the match that we played, I would have made
the following comments. Now Kenny, What the heck were you trying to do out there!? There is no excuse that you lost those two matches today. Listen. Your game is clearly superior to those two guys out there. Yes, they are good players but you are the better player. What was it that you were trying to do. You had Rob  on match point and what was it that you tried to do. You tried to smash that ball and went for the kill. All you had to do was to tap the ball to the side and end the
match.

And what about Paul? You are going for too much! You are trying to demonstrate the brilliance of your new shot making abilities! I don't mean that in a mean spirited way either. You have excellent shots. Stroke per stroke you are better than these guys. Now, go out there and play within your limits. And when the time
is right, go for your shots. Until then, don't go out there trying to blow a hole through your opponents. Take your time. Construct your game plan and execute. Hit more than 3 or 4 shots per point if you have to. Now let's do it.

Now as Rob, I was quite lucky to win that match. However, I didn't win it. You lost. I would have been completely distraught if I hadn't won. Oh well.

Paul wrote:

Paul offers this simple explanation of super Tuesday: It's a new millenium--the bizzaro millenium. I'm now Kenny on the tennis court and Kenny has become the old Paul. Of course I've retained Paul's good looks, witt and charm as you probably noticed. Things should revert back to the way they were in 3000.

February 24, 2000  Lucas vs. Grenwis

It was a thin day at Four Seasons where the only two players to show were Bob and Kenny.  It was inevitable that the two juggernauts would one day play each other on the court.  This would be the day.

The next 45 minutes passed by as the two warriors practiced cross-court shots, down the line shots and volleys.  Each player was warming up for the upcoming match.  The twist of the racquet, the call of "UP" and Bob started serving the match.

It was a fairly even first 4 games, as the players split the games 2-2.   Lucas was warming up a bit, feeling out Bob's game.  Bob was equally seeing what Kenny was capable of.  The match was close, but not for long.

The next four games went to Kenny as he fired a slew of passing shots at Bob to win the set 6-2.  Bob played tough, but too many unforced errors were his demise.  The next set continued as Kenny won 6-1. The serves heated up and the concentration level was high for Lucas. 

Bob quotes after the match, "Yea, I had too many unforced errors.   I thinking around spring time I will get used to his serve and win 3 or 4 games off him in a set."  Kenny overheard the remarks and had a few of his own, "Bob could win 3-4 games in a set, but he first needs to learn how to hit the high-low-high backhand slice, the windmill forehand, and be able to hit winners off the short ball."  Bob said he was up for the challenge.

February 17, 2000  Lucas vs. Scicchatano

The Giant against the Fly was how the press was publicizing the long awaited battle this morning between Kenny and Paul. Paul had lost by staggering deficits in previous sets, but was looking to reclaim some respect.

The match started out as usual, with both players holding serve. These two juggernauts usually equal one another for the first 2-4 games. However, the sets generally turn in Kenny's favor .... usually. Today was a day to remember for the Fly.

Paul kept his head, ran each ball down untiringly and let Kenny know what emotions he was feeling on each ball. Frequent outbursts included, "Arrrrrrrrgh !!!!!", "Yeeeeeaaaaaaa !!!!" and "Oh No!". The crowd continually saw smiles appearing on Kenny's face at the verbal outbursts continued.

Paul played well and won the set 7-5. It was a tremendous win. Paul quotes after the match, "I never give up. I won't give up. I'm playing hard in a match until it's over. I felt like I could match Kenny stroke for stroke." Kenny overheard Paul's interview and interjected a few quotes of his own ... "I don't know how Paul stayed in it. I was hitting winners left & right, but Paul kept winning his serve. This match renews our rivalry. Believe me, I plan on returning to my dominate form. Until then, Paul can bask in victory."