Philippine Davis Cup team captain and the country’s No. 1 singles player Cecil Mamiit reached the finals of the US Open National Playoffs at the Atlanta Athletic Club but lost ub three sets to the No. 1 seed Blake Strode in the battle for the championship.
Mamiit played some excellent tennis to take Strode out of his game in the first set which the Filipino won 6-2 but the big serving Strode came back to take the second set 6-4 to set up a decider.
Mamiit gave it his all in stretching the younger No. 1 seed to a tiebreak which he eventually lost 6-7.
The US Open official website said that Mamiit and Strode are competing for a wild card into the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament . The Mamiit-Strode finals showdown has been described as a clash between a veteran and an up-and-comer with Mamiit being 34 years of age and Strode who is from St. Louis 23 .
In the semi finals Mamiit who was seeded No. 3 faced No. 4 seed Chris Wettengel, the 28 year old from Saratoga, California to win in straight sets 7-5/-6-3.
The US Open official website reported that both players exchanged breaks of service before Mamiit broke Wettengel to take the first set 7-5.
In the second set when the match was moved indoors because of the intense heat outside Mamiit who is always in great physical condition played with his usual intensity with the crowds cheers echoing on the indoor courts and out ran Wettengel and advanced to the finals with a 7-5/6-3 win.
In the first semi finals Strode overcame Haiti’‘s No. 3 seed Oliver Sajous cruising to a 6-3/6-0 win firing six aces and winning 84 percent of his first serve points in the opening set. Strode was a standout at the University of Arkansas and deferred going to Harvard Law School to turn pro.
Mamiit has actually played in the US Open main draw in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 and at one time rose to No. 72 in the world rankings in 1992. He also appeared in each of the four Grand Slams, advancing to the second round except at Wimbledon.
The US Open website reported that before reaching the finals of the US Open National Playoffs Mamiit won the USTA Southern California Sectional Qualifying Tournament, losing just eight games in six matches in the event with one opponent withdrawal and one 6-0/6-0 victory in the semi finals.
Both Strode and Mamiit have competed in the US Open and even though 11 years of age and levels of tennis experience separate the two, both the veteran Mamiit and the ip-and-coming Strode will have their eyes set on Flushing Meadows to return to the tournament every player would love to compete in.
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