Race, Montgomery win in 3rd set tiebreak

Top seeds Jeff Race and Todd Montgomery dropped the opening set and rallied in the third set tiebreak to defeat the father-and-son tandem of Michael and Daniel Son in the men’s open doubles championship of the 22nd Annual DFS Micronesian Tennis Championships yesterday at the Pacific Islands Club tennis courts.

The 2003 South Pacific Games teammates took a while to warm up in the 32-34-degree heat and lost the first set. But Race and Montgomery bounced back in the second after unforced errors and double faults plagued the Sons, forcing a third and deciding set.

In the rubber match, Michael’s volleying skills were in full display as the No. 2 seeds went up 3-1. But Race and Montgomery would regroup in the middle games and forged ahead 4-3.

Daniel would fail to hold serve in the next game allowing Race and Montgomery to serve for the championship up 5-3. But it wasn’t as automatic as anyone thought, as the Sons showed remarkable resiliency and fought back with their backs against the wall.

Michael continued to anchor the baseline and Daniel made up for questionable decisions earlier in the third set by holding court on the net.

Race and Montgomery went up two championship points in the ninth game on the former’s service game. But Daniel would smash an overhand winner on the net and hit a passing shot between Race and Montgomery’s legs to swing momentum to the Sons’ side.

Michael would then paint the sideline on a forehand winner to cut their deficit to one game. The elder Son then served perfectly to tie the count at 6-6 leaving Race and Montgomery pondering that they might have given up a sure thing.

On the tiebreak, the father-and-son team carried on the momentum of their remarkable late comeback to go up 4-2.

But a different Race and Montgomery emerged after the change court. Race revisited his heyday playing for Pacific Oceania team in the 1990s and held serve for a 3-4 game.

Montgomery then stepped up his defense on Michael’s deadly volleys on the net, as the ex-Kansas Jayhawk won a rally against the former tennis pro from South Korean to knot the tiebreak at 4-4.

He then held serve as the complexion of the game suddenly shifted to Race and Montgomery.

They would increase their lead to two games, 6-4, after Daniel lost his service, which left Race holding the ball serving for the championship.

The former Chapman University star didn’t let up and sealed the title with another superb service game. Race and Montgomery won the championship in a score 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

Race said he was happy he and Montgomery were able to keep their poise after losing the lead late and were fortunate to win the game on the tiebreak.

“We were trying to play to Daniel specially when he was at the net and he came up with the shots and then we kind of struggled a little bit,” he said. “But we were lucky to have pulled off comeback and win the match. I wasn’t surprised we lost the first set. Todd had just came out of a mixed doubles match with players not hitting the ball very hard and it was a total change of pace. So, that’s a big change.”

Montgomery agreed with Race’s comments and said Michael and Daniel Son gave them a real good fight.

“I though we were really in big trouble. I thought the momentum shifted and after a couple of points there was another swing. I think it changed after that close volley rally we had – the one when I went crosscourt against Michael. After that, we had the momentum finally on our side. We won five straight points and that’s pretty amazing when you think about it, surprising. Jeff also served great, that made it easier for us.”

Michael and Daniel Son didn’t offer any excuses after the close loss. “I was really nervous. But I tried my best,” said Daniel. His dad, meanwhile, didn’t admit that a bad tennis elbow gave him trouble as the game was winding down. “It was a great match. Both doubles teams gave their best and the deserving pair won.”

Other doubles and junior singles finals were being played at the PIC tennis courts as of press time.