by RTNYC
The 91st annual Payne Whitney Memorial Intercity Tennis Doubles (“Whitney Cup”) featured a remarkable gathering of the country’s top amateur players for three days of exceptional competition in early December. Washington aimed to replicate last year’s triumph, fielding a formidable team under the leadership of new captain Ryan Carey.
Meanwhile, first-time New England captain Andrew Peabody was eager to kick off the tournament on a strong note, despite navigating a series of roster changes. Although they were missing the talented Ben Hudson this year, New England welcomed two promising newcomers, Tarquin Sotir and Ben Dickinson, while being anchored by the experienced duo of Jeremy Wintersteen and Jeff Horine. They cruised through their opening match against New York, sweeping the home team, but faced a challenging opponent in Greentree on Saturday afternoon. With the score tied at two matches apiece, Peabody and Dickinson overcame a valiant effort from Greentree’s Ben Lawrence and George Wheatley to secure their spot in the final in a three-set thriller.
On the East Court side of the draw, Washington displayed their depth and skill in a flawless performance against Tuxedo–Aiken–Chicago, with Philadelphia following suit to set up a highly anticipated semifinal clash. In one of the most remarkable outcomes in recent Whitney Cup history, Philadelphia achieved an impressive 4–1 victory. After a loss in the senior position, they rallied with four consecutive underdog wins, overcoming handicap differences of 8, 6, 2, and 10 points—an extraordinary feat.
Sunday’s final was thrilling from the outset, with New England taking an early lead at the senior position, followed by a dramatic come-from-behind victory at #1 by Philadelphia, led by Henry Smith. New England regained control, securing a win at #2 with Meringoff and Dickinson triumphing over the tough pair of Jon Crowell and Will Zhang. In a surprising #3 pairing, five-time U.S. Amateur Champion Pat Winthrop and eye-catching newcomer Michael O’Connor dispatched Mike Noll and Mike Barton, solidifying New England’s victory.
Congratulations to Andrew Peabody and the New England team on achieving their second Whitney Cup victory in the last five years. Special recognition goes to first-time team member Arthur Drane and the dedicated New England supporters. A heartfelt thank you to the Racquet & Tennis Club and its staff for hosting a magnificent weekend.
Full roster: Alex Spence, Andrew Peabody (c), Arthur Drane, Ben Dickinson, Dave Tedeschi, Jeff Horine, Jeremy Wintersteen, Mike O’Connor, Pat Winthrop, Shawn Herlihy, Stathi Kyriakides, Tarquin Sotir, Todd Meringoff
Results and photos follow below.
For action shots from Friday’s play check out our USCTA Annual Dinner Story
