Written by: Jarrel Koh
Edited by: Jared Rajiv
Photos by: EusoffWorks
Eusoff Tennis (M) started their IHG journey with their first preliminary match against Sheares Hall. The lineup was a mix of freshies and LYLCs, and supporters witnessed many intense matches with varied outcomes.
The 1st Singles player was Elliot, who had a slow start as he was down 0-2 and struggling with his serves. Once he warmed up, however, things started picking up for him, and we saw a slow and steady comeback. With the newfound momentum and the crowd getting more hyped as he takes each game, Elliot pushed through several tied scorelines, from 4-4, 5-5, and finishing strong with 8-5 and finally a score of 9-6.
The 2nd Singles player was Yi Chen, C Block’s very own LYLC. Unfortunately, he matched up against SH’s top seed, and despite his most valiant effort, Yi Chen ended with a score of 0-9. Honestly, the guy was pretty good, and we could see Yi Chen refusing to give up even towards the end, hitting balls over the net again and again with the same vigour throughout the match. For this, Yi Chen is a winner in our hearts.
The 3rd Singles player was Dylan, who performed exceptionally well throughout his match. His strokes were consistent and his focus was unwavering, and he achieved a solid score of 9-2. Not only was his gameplay highly commendable, but we should also recognise his great sportsmanship during the match, offering to replay points when the umpire didn’t see if the ball was served in or out of his court even when he called out for his point. This man is truly a real one and Eusoff is proud to have him.
Dylan dominating the match from the get-go starting with his powerful serves
The 1st Doubles pair included a freshie senior combo of Ito and Elvis. Elvis wore the OG Eusoff jersey from his batch while Ito repped the new 22/23 drip. Their flashy serves and rallies got the crowd going wild during the initial few games, and they led 3-2. However, their games were met with a bit too many sudden deaths (scoreline of 40-40), and SH eventually caught up and overtook EH 4-6. Eventually, they lost 6-9 to SH, but there is no doubt that they will perform better in subsequent matches after they get used to coping with the nerves of being back on the court.
Ito and Elvis celebrating a hard-earned point together
The 2nd Doubles pair was Si Heng and Brandon, and their match was a Netflix-worthy hit. Their match lasted at least 90 minutes straight, with non-stop back-and-forth leads with SH. During their match time, Brandon smashed multiple balls and capitalised well on the opponent’s high balls, along with Si Heng hitting multiple good serves and returns. Several times they were also challenged by the umpire, but with Brandon’s tenacity, he was able to firmly yet politely assert that Eusoff rightfully took a few points when SH hit the ball just barely out the court line. Their game culminated in a win of 9-8, an intense tiebreaker game which had our fellow Eusoffians riled up and cheering their hearts out.
A happy Eusoff mens tennis team after securing the dub
Although Eusoff Tennis did not play to their fullest potential, we will definitely see more exciting matches and solid plays from our athletes in future matches, now that they are warmed up and soaking in the IHG energy and spirit. Be sure to come down to support our players!
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