All three Maccabi Tennis Club Pennant teams competing in the finals were eliminated on Saturday. In a highly competitive season, three of six Maccabi Tennis Club Pennant teams qualified for finals.
Grade 9 team members L to R: Aaron Kramer, Ian Altman, Daniel Goodrich and Joel Rabinov (captain). Not pictured: Nathan Rapoport, Wayne Myers.
Grade 5 Semi Final Mt Martha 5-9-68 def Maccabi 1-3-50
Asaf Nagar/Robert Minc 4-6 3-6
Marty Schwarz/Steven Gostin 2-6 5-7
Asaf Nagar 7-5 6-2
Jordan Jaffe 7-5 4-6 9-11
Marty Schwarz 3-6 1-6
Jonny Henquin 6-7 2-6
After a long drive down the Mornington peninsula on a beautiful summers day with absolutely no wind (how is that even possible in Melbourne), we brought the whole team down for the first final.
Starting with the doubles, Asaf and Rob fought hard but unfortunately could just never get going. After going down 4-0 and 3-0 in both the first 2 sets, they started to gain momentum and so nearly came back to take both sets, but the leads from before seemed too large. Whilst Marty and Steve put in a brilliant effort, especially in the 2nd set. Playing extremely consistent tennis and wearing the opponents down to take it to 5-5 in the 2nd set. Unfortunately, similarly like the other doubles, a few of the big points near the end didn’t go their way, going down in 2 sets.
In the singles, Asaf who was not feeling well but never stopped battling hard was playing an older player who just never missed. After an average of 8 shots per rally, Asaf continued to gain momentum and take the first set 7-5, after being 4-5 down, and then take the second set 6-2.
Jonny was next and had an awesome battle against his opponent. In an hour long set, Jonny and his opponent went back and forth with some insane rally’s, and unfortunately Jonny went down 7-6 in a set that could have gone any way. From there, Jonny struggled to get his game going, going down in the 2nd set.
Marty and Jordan then both went on for their singles, both knowing that they needed to win in straight sets and quite convincing.
Jordan played a really solid opponent, and after going down 4-2, 40-0, he slowly started to back in his attacking game and took control of the set, taking the set 7-5. Whilst in the 2nd set, it was a battle of momentum, after going down 5-0, Jordan got it back to 4-5, 40-15, to unfortunately go down 6-4. Whilst in the super, after such an intense match, Jordan saved 2 match points at 7-9 down, to just lose 11-9.
For Marty, unfortunately things just never got going for him. Playing a very good opponent, Marty struggled to play his natural game and get going, going down in 2 sets. But this should definitely not take away from the incredible season Marty has had.
At the end of the day, it was not meant to be, going down 5-1 in rubbers. However, overall it was a really enjoyable season consisting of a great team.
- Jordan Jaffe
Grade 9 Semi Final Beaumaris 6-9-69 def Maccabi 0-3-47
Aaron Kramer/Daniel Goodrich 3-6 7-6 11-13
Nathan Rapoport 6-7 4-6
Aaron Kramer 6-3 3-6 9-11
Joel Rabinov 2-6 2-6
Nathan Rapoport 5-7 3-6
Ian Altman 0-6 6-4 9-11
Away on the BLTC en tout cas courts, we had the full team available for the final.
Aaron and Daniel got the early break for 2-1 against BLTC most experienced players (Bashir and Lochlan). However, things turned, as Bashir and Lochlan’s net game became apparent: they took the opening set 6-3 and had 5-1. Then Aaron and Daniel changed things up, hitting moon balls and lobs (which seemed to work): they got back to 5all as even Bashir’s net game dropped. Aaron and Daniel took the 2nd set in a tiebreak. 3rd set tiebreak was anyone’s: both sides blew match point, before Bashir and Lochlan took it 13-11.
Nathan and Wayne got broken early: otherwise was a very close opening set. Unfortunately they just weren’t fully on their game, and that made the difference in a 6-7, 4-6 loss.
Aaron played well in the opening set for 6-3. However his opponent got the early break in the 2nd (0-2) with Aaron having to play catch-up after that (3-6). Aaron led throughout the match tiebreak and had a match point but couldn’t get it done, losing 9-11.
Joel played in the only one sided match for the day. The only positive thing to say, is that he avoided a bagel (despite losing 7 games in a row for 0-4 in 2nd set).
Nathan played against a guy who hits the ball hard. A tussle ensued in the opening set: 5-7 before Nathan ran out of steam in the 2nd set, losing the last few games for a 3-6 loss.
Ian didn’t get going in the opening set 0-6. However Ian fought back in the 2nd set to take it 6-4. Ian also had a match point in the tiebreaker, but went down 9-11.
Overall: a tough day. Unfortunately we ran into a side who is just fractionally better than us and who negated our strengths and a side who was hungry. They lost first place the week before: they led both doubles and let it slip: they were motivated to not let it happen again. Unfortunately this side just has our measure: over the years, it’s always 0-6 or 1-5.
As for us: I can’t question the fight. Everyone fought it out (and rather annoyingly, Aaron and Daniel managed it too late: Ian and I had started warming up, expecting them to lose at any moment yet they somehow kept going and going and going: we had a 30 minute hit and then stopped). Just a shame that the 50:50 calls (line calls, net cords) went against us the whole day (and not to mention you could hear the “clunk” of the pickleball that was more than 3 courts away: even Wayne was getting annoyed by it!
As for the season: a great team effort.
Aaron: bookended the season with close singles losses where he held a match point. Otherwise won all his singles and reliable at #1.
Nathan: Solid contributor as always in singles and doubles (and in every match).
Daniel: doubles proved to be his strength this season and got on a roll the last few matches (unfortunately ran into an experienced pair the last match).
Wayne: The first left hander I’ve had in my team this decade! A great joy to play with in doubles with his big serve, volleying skills.
Ian: a great debut season of pennant. Had won all his singles in home and away season.
As for me: a great season. Just a shame I’ve managed to get sick and been completely underdone in the toughest two singles matches I’ve had to play this year (the only ones I’ve lost): and I was carrying an injury when I did beat Lochlan earlier in the year. Today the first time this decade, where in singles, I haven’t managed to break my opponents serve in pennant. I mean: hitting 2nd serve returns short and down the middle deserved to be punished. The only 6 i has yesterday was sausages: managed to eat 6 after play (the only thing I did better than Lochlan yesterday). But all in all, a good season: my best doubles season probably this decade. In the meantime, keep trying to improve.
- Joel Rabinov
Grade 10 Semi Final Dendy Park 4-8-61 def Maccabi 2-4-43
Ben Pollak/Saul Jayes 6-0 7-6
Charlie Landau/Akash Lagad 1-6 4-6
Ben Pollak 0-6 0-6
Saul Jayes 3-6 6-2 3-10
Charlie Landau 2-6 6-4 10-3
Jack Stock 3-6 5-7
Against a clear top of the ladder we knew we had our work cut out for ourselves but we always had faith.
Ben and Saul played at #1 doubles and they absolutely rocketed out of the blocks winning the first set 6-0. The second set was tight and although they had chances to win it 6-3 they still clutched it out and won it 7-6.
Charlie and Akash unfortunately struggled early losing the first set 6-1 but improved greatly in the second set and although they thought it was a chance gone begging they went down 6-4 in the second set.
Ben in singles, let’s maybe forget.
Saul played a very close match, as the game went on he played better and better but unfortunately in front of his family who was great support just couldn’t get the win against a good opposition, losing in a 3rd set tiebreaker.
Charlie, not sure what happened early was struggling but then almost flicked a switch in the second set, winning in a 3rd set tiebreak.
Jack, against a pretty pesky opposition (Jack seems to always play against those people) unfortunately couldn’t get the job done, was gutsy especially in the second set but wasn’t to be.
Overall, a pleasing day, with every match competitive (except one) and a positive season overall. Onwards and upwards to the summer season.
- Ben Pollak