CLAY SLAM

The Clay Slam is the second Slam in the Series that covers the three major surfaces, hardcourt, clay and grass.

 

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​2023 CLAY SLAM SUMMARY (JULY)

 

2023 New England Clay Slam #1: Bright Sun, New Faces

 

The second of the New England Senior Slams took place at the lovely Concord Country Club from July 6 - 9 with 112 players in 11 age categories in singles and doubles. As always, tournament director Nigel Bentley ensured the courts were in top shape. There were new and veteran players in all divisions. The outstanding competition included upsets and three-setters to keep spectators engaged. A shout out to the Concord Country Club Snack Bar Crew who provided a nice lunch for the players and are always willing to adjust and customize their menu for the players.

 

Let’s dig into highlights.

 

Singles

 

Nine players comprised the women’s 50s singles draw. Claudia Hawkes of Beverly, MA came back from a several-year hiatus to plow through the field and win the gold in fine form. The semi-final between Meg Donahue of Brattleboro, VT and Ikumi Kayama of Belchertown, MA was the match of the draw, with the 7-6, 6-3 battle lasting three hours. Donahue, the finalist in the women’s singles 50s, also played in the 60s singles division, and -- in her sixth match of the week – won it by defeating Helen McSweeney of Chicago 6-4, 6-1. The best match of this draw was between Heidi Maguire and Mary Lou Tierney. Maguire finally prevailed in the 3.5-hour quarterfinal match, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 10-6 in the breaker.

 

In the women’s 50s back draw, Lisa Finneral of Rye, NH defeated Ariadna Rodenstein of Cambridge, MA.

 

With six of the top 12 ranked NE men’s 50s players (four of the top 66 nationally), four highly ranked players from the 55s, and a few other highly regarded players, including a previous champion of this tournament, the men’s 50 singles draw – 20 strong -- was incredibly competitive in every round.

 

“The men’s 50s draw was the deepest, most talented one yet,” commented Bentley. “The round of 16 matches were unbelievably high level. There were no easy wins. It was a lot of fun to watch.”

 

Players from five different states (CT, Colorado, Maine, NY, and MA) were in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, locals Bill Anderson and Matt Gelotte knocked out two of the seeds but were subsequently defeated by the remaining two seeds in the semi-finals. The final pitted defending champion Alastair Chapman against Carlos Lopez. With the heat, humidity, and fatigue adding to the drama, it was an instant classic. Both players banged away from the baseline; Chapman ultimately prevailed, 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 in the breaker.

 

The back draw final of the men’s 50s featured Ted Mathias of Avon, CT and John Wilcox of Upton, MA, with Mathias taking the bronze.

 

The men’s 60s singles field had 19 players, five in the top 12 in NE, along with talented David Roth of Waterford, CT and multiple Slam champion D. Robbins Tien. Roth defeated fifth ranked Kevin Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 16 and then had a great quarterfinal match against former Slam champion David MacBurnie, with MacBurnie winning, 7-5, 7-5. Top seed Peter Appleton of Farmington, CT outlasted MacBurnie in the semi-finals with MacBurnie retiring after 2.5 hours at 7-6 (5), 6-6.

 

 

On the other side of the draw, Tien marched to the final with three straight-set wins, but then fell to Appleton, 6-3, 6-2. Not surprisingly, Williams won the back draw with straight set wins.

 

In the men’s 70s singles draw (20 strong), former Harvard University Tennis Coach David Fish went three sets against Daniel Heitzman of Marshfield, MA in a long quarterfinal match, 6-2, 2-6, 10-5 in the breaker and used that win to propel him to the finish line as he defeated last year’s finalists, third seeded Dirk Dugan (Trumansburg, NY), 6-4, 6-1 in the semis and top-seeded and defending champion Jon Wilson (Stratham, NH), 6-0, 6-3. Glen Mayberry of Portland, ME won all three of his matches in straight sets to win the consolation bracket.

 

Doubles

 

On Saturday afternoon, with the tournament cocktail party, there were many spectators in attendance for the remainder of the matches of the day. It was a great tournament atmosphere.

 

All three women’s divisions had three-team fields. In the women’s 50s division Naomi Biswas and Sandra Palmer swept the round robin format, as did new partners Georgia Cady and Susan Wareing in the 60s, and Anne Parker and Sharon Black in the 70s. All the teams appreciated the fun competition.

 

The men’s 50 doubles had nine talented teams. After a 7-5, 7-5 win in the quarterfinals, top-seeded Brian Powell and Norm Archer of Maine fell to the 2021 champions, Steven and Gary Durante. In the other half of the draw, Mark Ozer and D. Robbins Tien prevailed in a very entertaining match vs. David Corbett and Nagaraj Vutukur, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 10-6 in the breaker. In the final, the Durante brothers continued their telepathic court coverage to defeat Ozer and Tien, 6-2, 7-6 (3).

 

The 60s doubles division had 10 teams. It was the final on Sunday afternoon that produced the best tennis and the most drama. Pitting tournament veterans and four nationally ranked players in Jonathan Bates, Harlan Stone, Carl Norbeck, and Matt Gelotte led to unbelievable angles, gets, and shot making. After splitting sets (6-2, 4-6), the third set super tiebreaker was a set itself and a pleasure to watch. Neither team led by more than one point until the conclusion. Both teams had two match points that were denied. In the end, it took a Gelotte ace and a volley lob landing on the sideline for Norbeck and Gelotte to prevail 15-13 in the breaker.

 

The men’s 70s draw had four teams. Glen Mayberry and Jon Wilson lost only five games in their two matches to easily take the title.

 

HARDCOURT SLAM     GRASS SLAM