by Mit Carothers, Tennis Chair
Aiken Tennis Club
The Aiken Tennis Club welcomed back the 2022 Northrup Knox after a two-year hiatus. The eight teams were drawn into two groups with each having two former champions as well as former finalists, all of whom had new partners. Fifteen matches later, nine of which went three sets, four wonderful social events, and a mathematical determination of one semifinalist, there was one team left standing.
It could be argued that if you were to visit the Aiken Tennis Club just once do it during the Knox Tournament on the Thursday Oyster Night. With an assortment of oysters and Robert Glance presenting the carving station, the tennis kicked off with two matches that each went the full three sets. In the first James Chamberlain and partner Tyler Thompson defeated Vaughn Massie and Jason Mengel 6-5 in the third and the stage was set for what would be a group that was decided on the 5th tiebreak. In the second match, also in three sets, Geoff Ellis and Jason Rabun let the eventual winners Rakesh Jasani and Jason McAlhaney what to expect before falling 6-3 in the third.
Friday’s six matches all went to a third set except for the two that Ryan Carey and partner Nick Jones played beating 2019 finalist Michael Sullivan with Pete Roessler and then evening the record of Chamberlain/Thompson. The other two match winners on Friday were Morgan Purvis and Thad Gray beating George Handy/Charlie Michele and then putting Jasani/McAlhaney all even at 1-1. The cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and post-match wrap-up caused most to miss generous curfews.
Saturday’s six matches included 2 semifinals whose participation was so close as to cause many anxious moments. The first saw Jasani/McAlhaney pushed to set point in the first before defeating Sullivan/Roessler and in the second, at match point, Carey/Jones defeated Ellis/Rabun in three sets. Records continued to fall at the Saturday night dinner where 54 were seated in the club room for a meal as memorable as the day’s tennis.
The Championship final on Sunday morning featured the undefeated team of Carey/Jones at 4-0 versus the 3-1 team of Jasani/McAlhaney. A fast start proved crucial to the winners as Jasani and McAlhaney won a set point in the second set to claim the 2022 championship. They accepted trophies from Linda Knox McLean and Norty Knox who then hosted a brunch for members, guests, and players.
Click here for the draw
