Vive la France!!
by Simon Aldrich
The 2015 US Amateur and US Over-50 Championships were played in New York at the Racquet & Tennis Club March 19-22, 2015. Participation in the event was terrific and play was very competitive throughout the weekend. The Amateur included 18 players in the singles and 10 teams in the doubles. The 50s attracted 15 singles players and 8 doubles teams. A particular highlight was that Adrian Kemp, current assistant pro at the Racquet & Tennis Club and former head professional at the Société du Jeu de Paume et Racquets (Paris), was a key factor in recruiting 22 year-old British amateur champion Matthieu Sarlangue, Benjamin Jacquin-Turrenttini, and Charles-Antoyne Hurstel to come from Paris to compete in the US Amateur.
The French swept both Amateur titles with Matthieu Sarlangue winning the singles Championship and the doubles Championship with Nicolas Victoir against defending champions Lex Miron and Tom McGinnis (R&TC) in one of the finest displays of Amateur doubles many of us have witnessed. Although Sarlangue & Victoir won in straight sets, the match was closer than the score. Miron & McGinnis led 5-1 in the second set, but Sarlangue & Victoir did not give up and fought back to win the set 6-5 and go up 2-0. The third set, won by the Frenchmen, was another set of excellent tennis and very exciting to watch. Of additional note was the outstanding play of Brook Hazelton who beat John Prenn and Pat Winthrop enroute to the final against Sarlangue.
John Prenn came over from the UK and played in the Amateur and 50s singles events. John’s fitness and tenacity was on display all weekend. With a very strong showing in both singles events, John lost in the amateur semis to Brook Hazelton (R&TC) and won the 50s Championship over Bill Barker (Princes Court). In the 50s doubles Charles Johnstone and Simon Aldrich were defeated by Bill Barker and Steve Hufford (Princes Court).
The weekend was a tremendous success with a good time had by all.
