by John Lumley
We had a fantastic turnout for the 2019 Noll Cup with twenty entrants ready to fight it out for the 30-39 level championship. The first round matches were pretty straight forward with the first battle of the day going to Morgan Purvis taking it five-games all 40-all against Dick Tanfield in the final set. The other barn burner of the day was between Charles Buaron and Anders Cohen, with Buaron taking it 5-6 6-3 6-5!
Saturdays play saw the no.1 seed Max Drake go down in a tight match to Morgan Purvis 6-5 6-4. Both played superb tennis but in the end, Purvis’s volleys and consistency was too much for Drake. Andrew Dick played a very smooth and controlled game to take down Bruce Katz 6-2 6-4 to secure his place in the semi-final. Charles Buaron fresh off the racquets court played an aggressive style to beat Andrew Purcell 6-4 1-6 6-5. Purcell with his brutal length and heavy spin off the cut volley caused big issues for Buaron in the second set, but in the end, Buaron snuck out the final game in the final set. Great play from both and exciting to watch. The last quarter-final saw Charlie Vleck play a flawless match against Michael Gorsen to win 6-1 6-2.
The semifinals were set to be two exciting matches and they did not disappoint. In the first match, Andrew Dick played Morgan Purvis. Dick dropped the first set 6-4 to a solid Purvis but came out firing in the second set to tie it up 6-2. In the final set Dick not making any errors, putting Purvis under immense pressure and took the match 4-6 6-2 6-3. In the second semifinal Charlie Vleck and Charles Buaron both looking excited and fresh, took it to the final game in the first set. Vleck sneaked out a backhand drive bottom corner dedans winner followed by a big fist pump to take the first set 6-5! Buaron being the competitor he is stepped up his game to tie it up 6-4 bringing it to the last set. Vleck still looking fresh and moving great kept up the pressure and with spectacular retrieval took the final set 6-3 securing a place in the final 6-5 4-6 6-3.
The final of the consolation draw was between Clayton Vaughters who beat Dick Tanfield 8-7 40-all game point in the semifinals. Eli Drake beat Peter Bender in the semifinals 8-4. Vaughters had a strong start over Drake with consistent length and kept the pressure on to take the Noll Cup Consolation Winner title 8-4. Congratulations to Clayton Vaughters.
Charlie Vleck and Andrew Dick went back and forth trading games in the first set of the main draw final. Vleck, with a couple of crucial returns, closed out the first set 6-4. Looking good and in control, he went up two games to love, but Dick dug deep and took a lead 4-2. Dick had changed up his game generating more pace and forcing shorter rallies. Vleck changed up the serve which gave him back the edge and he started to claw back the games. Vleck now back in control and playing the style he likes to play closed out the match 6-4 6-4! A big congratulations to Charlie Vleck on a superb tournament and to Andrew Dick for some fantastic tennis over the weekend.
A big thank you to all of the players who traveled to play in the tournament and we look forward to seeing you next time.
