Written By: Leung Lok Heng Edited By: Valerie Chua & Jolene Wong Photographs By: EusoffWorks
On yet another scorching Sunday afternoon, the tennis guys were back at the SRC tennis courts to continue their IHG season. Their opponent this time was King Edward VII Hall (KE) and with yellow-donning supporters streaming into the courts, the team was ready to get their game on.
Starting things off for the team was Captain Wilbert representing the team for the first singles. As usual, Wilbert was off to a spectacular start and his trademark powerful shots were on full display, giving him the first game and a quick 1-0 lead. However, his opponent matched Wilbert stroke-for-stroke and made good plays of his own, winning the next 2 games. It was clear that this battle was going to be fiercely contested between these two skilled players. The supporters were treated to a real show as Wilbert continued to send rockets across the net to his opponent that were easily unreturned. His control of the ball was equally impeccable as he sent his opponent scrambling all over the court to return his well-placed shots. The atmosphere was electric as the two continued to fight it out but eventually, Wilbert’s sheer talent and tenacity allowed him to outlast his opponent and take the match 9-4.
EH 1:0 KE
Up next for Eusoff was Real Man Zhen Nan, playing in the second singles for the day. Following his captain’s footsteps, Zhen Nan displayed equally powerful shots and his lefty booming serves were too much for his opponent to handle. He blitzed to an early 3-1 lead and never looked back from then on. He continued to serve ace after ace and when he didn’t, his strong returns and clever drop shots to the net allowed him to string together points easily. He continued to build on his lead, widening the score to 6-1 and kept the pressure on. Even when he was trailing in the game, he managed to remain calm and composed, never letting it rattle his nerves. A hard smash to the back of the court sealed the final game for Zhen Nan as he cruised to a 9-1 victory.
EH 2:0 KE
A sudden downpour after the earlier match caused the next few matches to be delayed, but the inclement weather was not going to stop the senior pairing of Yew Hoe and Damian from going all out for their match. Right from the get go, the pair played with confidence and an intensity which set the tone for the rest of the match. Damian’s tough serves and Yew Hoe’s excellent defence allowed them to assert themselves early on and jump to a 2-0 lead. The duo continued their great play and were running all over the court to save balls and easily converted them to points. However, their opponents were also evenly matched and managed to tie the score at 3-3 and eventually 5-5. The fierce competition between the two teams continued as they traded points back and forth, with aggressive shots from the duo allowing them to stay in the match as the supporters cheered with every swing of their rackets. However, their opponents managed to gain a 6-5 lead and eventually, the pair dropped the match 6-9.
EH 2:1 KE
Needing just one more win to secure Eusoff’s victory, Freshie Bobby and senior Le Yuan stepped up the plate as the second doubles pairing for the day. From the very first point, the duo exhibited incredible plays that showed they were a force to be reckoned with. They returned every shot that was sent to them swiftly and decisively with even more speed than it came with. Despite dropping the first game, they remained unfazed and came roaring back to win the next few games for a 3-1 lead. Like the earlier matches, the KE players were equally skilled and managed to catch up all the way to tie the game at 7-7. A sick smash by fan favourite Bobby, which sent the ball soaring over the court fences, drew loud cheers from the audience and gave them the 8-7 lead. They needed just one more game to win, and win they did. Strong shots by Le Yuan allowed the duo to take control of the final game and with another strong serve from Bobby, they had clinched the final game and match 9-7 and sealed Eusoff’s victory in the battle between the two halls.
EH 3:1 KE
Last but not least for the day was Chee Wang, playing in the third and final singles match. Like his fellow teammates, Chee Wang showed his strength by sending powerful balls over to the opponent’s side of the court for quick points. His agility was on full display for the supporters as he sprinted all over to chase down balls that many thought would be an automatic point for his opponent. His hustle and determination were clearly evident as he never gave up for any point no matter the score. Alas, he eventually lost the match 1-9 to his more experienced opponent but his valiant effort was surely commendable.
Final score – EH 3:2 KE
With this win, the tennis guys have secured top spot in the preliminary grouping round. Their record remains unblemished but their next semi-final match will surely be a tough battle for the team. Nonetheless, we have utmost faith in them and let’s continue to wish them all the best and support them for their semi-final match!
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