Nash Cup 2018 Day 5 Recap
Nash Cup 2018 Day 5
Nash Cup 2018 Saturday September 22nd
Women Semi’s & Men Final
Nearly 100 amateur players from across Ontario and Michigan completed play today in 9 divisions. Congratulations to all who took home some great prizing from Salming, and thank you for being part of this event.
The annual “Challenge Match” was hosted for the first time by Julia Nash, oldest daughter of the events founder. At 13 she showed remarkable poise and was completely unphased by the crowd of 80+ who were taking in the spectacle. In simple terms this event is a “king of the hill” battle where the serving player must complete a challenge to earn points and stay in control of the court. Nikki Todd; Nicole Bunyan; Holly Delivigne; Sanne Veldkamp; and Julianna Courtice were great sports and had a blast completing over 50 different challenges including playing with a junior racquet; a tennis ball; completing a push up within the rally; touching all four walls; playing two opponents at once (pictured) and playing with the lights out. A great way to start out the night.
The evenings’ matches have been sold out since May and it’s safe to say that nobody is asking for their money back. WHAT A SHOW!!!
Women:
Emily Whitlock vs Milou vd Heijden 11-9,11-6,11-6(39mins)
Samantha Cornett vs Nadine Shahin 12-10,10-12,11-9,12-10(48mins)
Alfredo Avila vs Christopher Binnie 8-11,11-3,7-11,12-10,11-2(67mins)
Emily Whitlock vs Milou vd Heijden 11-9,11-6,11-6(39mins)
Match reporter Brad ‘Stingray’ Hanebury back again by popular demand. Tonight’s first match is the women’s semi-final between Van Der Heijden and Whitlock. After typing Van Der Heijden once (now twice), I’ve come to the conclusion that she needs a nickname. Preferably something short and easy to type. The Vandal? Darth Heijden? Let’s have a popular vote to decide. Call in with your vote in the next 20 minutes.
The first rally is a quick one while the players warm up. Whitlock takes it with a quick drop shot. Second rally of the game sees Heijden slip on court and roll her ankle. Three minute timeout injury. Dr. Phil (Stables) runs on court to help, mistaking the crowd murmurs of ‘ankle roll’ with ‘home flipping’. Victoria Soo, a real doctor, arrives soon after and helps with the diagnosis.
A few minutes later (about 3 to be exact), Heijden returns to the court looking ready to play. She moves well and wins the point with a tight drop from the back. She continues the momentum, winning the next several rallies. Whitlock pushes back with a long point to take back serve.
The players trade points as they reach the end of the first game. Neither one seems able to string multiple points together. Final points of the game and Whitlock appears to be pulling away. Heijden is doing a lot of work to stay in the points. Final point sees Whitlock hit a winner in the back right.
Whitlock takes the first game.
During the intermission, let’s do one of our more popular segments: talking with the audience.
Me: Rob Doherty, what did you think of that first game?
Rob: I slept for three hours last night. I just drank five Red Bull’s and a pint of beer.
Me: that sounds astonishingly unhealthy.
Rob: I CAN SEE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE
Me: *slowly backs away*
The second game is underway and Heijden looks ready for a battle. Whitlock meets her shot for shot and takes the first two points. Whitlock’s length is just a little bit tighter and deeper than Heijden’s, which is allowing her more opportunities to attack from winning positions. However Heijden refuses to quit, and with her tremendous court coverage she is forcing each rally to extend.
Mid game and Whitlock begins to pull away, gong up 8-4. Heijden does her best to battle back, but Whitlock’s lead is too great. She takes the second game to go up 2-0.
I’d like to welcome our co-reporter for the third game, Gary Sullivan. Gary, what do you think Heijden has to do to come back?
Gary? Has anyone seen Gary?
Apparently Gary is at the bar. We’ll check in with him later.
The third game has Whitlock go up 3-1 with a succession of quick points. Heijden needs to change something up if she wants to give herself a chance. Whitlock is in the zone, and proceeds to execute a strong game. Heijden is unable to respond, allowing Whitlock to rack up the points. The third game ends fairly undramatically (new word) with Whitlock taking the win and a place in the finals tomorrow. This reporter is curious how much of a factor Heijden’a rolled ankle was on her play. Although she was moving well, knowing that you have an injury can always affect how you move on a subconscious level.
Samantha Cornett vs Nadine Shahin 12-10,10-12,11-9,12-10(48mins)
Tonight is the woman semi-final night and the crowd favourite, Canadian Samantha Cornett is playing the #2 seed in the tournament. The match started with the Egyptian Nadine Shahin serving and the crowd is already going crazy. The rallies are long and the players’ patient as they look for the right opportunities. Nadine builds a lead and it looks grim for Sam, but she rallies hard to come back from a 7-10 deficit to win the first 12-10!! This game was crucial, and the crowd gave Sam a huge ovation as she walked off the court. She must have been adrenalized by the packed house going crazy!
The second game began and the crowd are still going nuts. What a crowd!! Samantha and Nadine alternate shots again and Sam has a late game lead. Three consecutive tins however gives the game to Nadine and they are tied up.
In the 3rd game Sam came out firing and went up 6-0. She then kept the pace going, but the Egyptian got a few points. Same won the game by the minimum 2 point margin again and the crowd goes insane! She must have been amazed at the support she was receiving, the club was packed, a few drinks in, and were going mental.
Onto the fourth. Sam keeps the same pace! The game plan is working and she’s working hard. Neither player is giving up easy point. Both keep looking for opportunities. Errors are rare. After switching leads back and forth Sam builds a 10-8 lead and then the Egyptian came back and made it 10-10. Two shots into the next rally the Egyptian hits the tin and the crowd is shocked. The next rally is a solid one when Sam hits a shot that’s a bit loose down the left wall. Nadine goes for the stoke call, but was early in her efforts. Players need to make every effort to play the ball. Perhaps if she had waited a fraction of a second longer she would have been right, but ref calls NO LET!!! No way! The game is over. The crowd didn’t believe it. It was the correct decision, but hardly an easy one to make. This reporter is very happy not to have had to make it. The Canadian is in the final!!!!! It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere tomorrow!! Good luck her opponent!! Jayden Shortt reporting
Alfredo Avila vs Christopher Binnie 8-11,11-3,7-11,12-10,11-2(67mins)
Match reporter Stingray Hanebury back again after a quick break (needed a pint). Tonight’s match should be an excellent one. Both players are Nash Cup veterans with Avila being runner up 9 years ago (2010) to the legendary Jan Koukal aka the person that brought the ‘Borovi?ka’ we all love and hate.
Binnie begins the first game looking very strong and steady. He’s managing to control the Tee and force Avila to move around him. He racks up the first few points to take an early lead.
Avila shows that he has an extra gear and forces Binnie into some very long, grueling rallies. Binnie struggles through them, being a much larger player, but he manages to come out on top to win the first game with a small lead.
In between games let’s check back in with Gary Sullivan for some colour commentary. Gary, what are your thoughts on this match so…wait…why are you holding 5 empty cans of beer? Whose are they?
Gary: what do you mean? I’m just clearing out my locker.
The second game has Avila displaying amazing athleticism and forcing Binnie to stretch himself around the court. Binnie attempts to maintain control of the T, going too far at times as to guess on several shots in one rally. Binnie looks to be feeling it more physically.
This reporter has just learned that there’s a silent auction at the club tonight. No one told me, of course, because it was silent.
The third game starts with Binnie upping the tempo of play. He needs to do something take away Avila’s speed advantage and give himself breathing room. The strategy starts off well by winning him the first few points, but he’s paying a heavy cardio cost for each one.
Midway through the game, Binnie slows the pace and focuses on hitting quality straight drives. The strategy helps, but no amount of running appears to affect Avila. He’s the Super Soaker (upper) of punishment.
6-6 in the third game and the crowd is thoroughly enjoying the match. The clash of styles on court is facilitating long, exciting rallies.
Avila hits two consecutive unforced errors, followed up two wonderful drops by Binnie. 9-7 Binnie. Two more hard fought points and Binnie takes the game 11-7.
During the intermission, Avila can be seen on the phone talking to his coach. Let’s listen in on what they’re saying:
Avila: Yes, that’s right. Pepperoni, mushroom, and anchovies. No onion, please.
Huh. Okay then.
Fourth game has Avila take an early lead 3-0. Binnie needs to be careful or else this game will slip away from him. At 3-1 the players have one of the longest rallies of the match. The players take turns in control and on the run. It unfortunately ends in a let ball.
At 6-6, Binnie has Avila on the run from corner to corner. Avila displays some Superman-like abilities to retrieve the shots. Well, no flight. Or heat vision. No cold breath either… maybe that was a poor analogy. How about Flash-like abilities?
The points get longer and more difficult for both players. Binnie is given a lifeline at the end when Avila hits a trickle boast into the ten, but the following rally Avila rebounds to take the game and bring this match to a fifth and final.
Let’s have some more colour commentary from our favorite Trottier, Fraser Trottier. Fraser, thoughts on the match so far? Wait, Riley, what are you doing here?
Riley Trottier: Damnit, Brad. I hate you. I hate you so much.
Me: Sooo, Fraser isn’t here?
Riley: No, obviously. He lives in Toronto. You know that.
Me: any chance we can do a Trottier trade?
Riley: No!
Me: sigh. We can always dream.
Fifth game starts and our host, Jay Nash, has to concede that he was wrong when he told Sam Cornett that whoever won the third game would take it in four. For the sake of his wife Diane we would like to repeat – “Jay admitted he was wrong”. There some commotion as Binnie takes a racquet to the back of the head. All smiles on the court and the play continues within seconds. Despite the intense rallies and the questioning of the odd call these guys are gentlemen on the court.
Early in the game, Avila plays long, consistent rallies. He’s letting Binnie know that he’s ready for a battle. Binnie hangs in there, but begins showing signs of fatigue. Avila runs up a quick lead to 6-1. Binnie is attempting to take the ball in short for winners, but clips the tin. He’s going to need a big recovery if he wants to make a comeback on this game.
8-2 Avila and Bonnie doesn’t have an answer for him. Three unforced errors give Avila the championship.
It took 9 years for Avila to go from ‘finalist’ to ‘champion’….this reporter has it on good authority that Binnie plans to do it in less than half that time.
As the trophy presentation is completed and the unbelievably dedicated NASH Cup Committee is commended a NASH Cup tradition is maintained as our new champions has a drink from the cup.
That ends the men’s draw for the 2018 Nash Cup. Everyone tune in tomorrow for the Women’s final feature Emily Whitlock and Samantha Cornett at 2pm EST.
Sunday’s Match
2pm Women’s Final – Emily Whitlock v. Samantha Cornett
