Written By: Leung Lok Heng Edited By: Valerie Chua & Jolene Wong Photographs By: Eusoffworks
After a long week with many other matches from other sports being played, it was finally time for the Tennis guys to take to the court for their Semi-Finals. The team had finished their preliminary stage undefeated, but they were up against Kent Ridge Hall (KR) who were equally competent opponents. It being a Saturday morning did not detract loyal Eusoffians from coming down and supporting the guys in what was to be a tough battle.
Quick note: in the Semi-Finals and Finals stage, matches are no longer 1 set of 9 games. Instead, players have play best of 3 sets with each set consisting of 6 games.
Kicking things off for Eusoff in the first singles match was Wilbert. It was business as usual for the charismatic captain as his wicked serves and booming shots gave him an early 3-0 lead. His opponent managed to win the next game, but Wilbert was unfazed as he stormed to a 6-1 win in the first set with more powerful swings which sent his opponent scrambling all over the court. Wilbert continued to pile on the pressure, taking whatever shot his opponent played and giving it back with ever greater power. It was top-notch tennis as Wilbert cruised to a 6-0 win in the second, giving him the match 6-1, 6-0.
EH 1:0 KR
Zhen Nan picked up where his captain left off as the second singles for the day. He flexed his dominance from the very start, showing off his brute strength as he served rockets to his opponents for easy points. He jumped to a 3-0 lead and never looked back after, making it look easy as he racked up point after point with a combination of shots. After winning the first set 6-0, Zhen Nan never lost his focus as he mercilessly continued to attack his opponent, displaying every shot in the book as he put on a show. With an aggressive smash, he won the second set 6-2 and the match was his.
Tennis sensation Zhen Nan delivering a hard smash back to his opponent.
EH 2:0 KR
Continuing Eusoff’s winning streak were Yew Hoe and Damian who were eager to seal the deal with a win of their own. It seemed like everything was going Eusoff’s way as the duo’s blistering hot start could almost rival the scorching sun that was roasting everyone present at the court (oof). With their impressive defence and impeccable control of the ball, they raced to a 4-0 lead and continued to break down their opponents, shot after shot. After winning the first set 6-3, they never let up and continued to play a clean game, forcing their opponent to err as they eventually took the match with an impressive 6-2 win in the second set.
EH 3:0 KR
Not to be outshined were Yu Rui and Bobby, the second doubles pair for Eusoff. Good plays from their opponents cost the duo the first set 2-6 but spurred on by the never-ending cheers from the supporters, the duo kicked into another gear in the second set. Bobby’s trademark serves were in full display as his opponents desperately tried to return them to no avail, allowing them to jump to a 2-0 lead, the duo continued to press on and Yu Rui’s hustle all over the court managed to save the duo some crucial points, eventually winning the second set 6-1 in dominant fashion. It was on to the third and final set, and the two teams were going neck-to-neck throughout, with the score being tied all the way to 3-3. However, a final push from the duo was too much for their opponents to handle as they took the final set 6-3 with some sick smashes which sent the crowd gasping.
Freshie Bobby with a serve.
EH 4:0 KR
With the win in the bag, Chee Wang stepped onto the court as the final singles match for the day. His resolute and patient defence allowed him to keep up with his opponent, keeping the scores close as he tied the set at 1-1. Strong play from his opponent gave KR the first set but Chee Wang was not going down without a fight. Chee Wang’s strong shots and aggressive swings allowed him to climb back from a 0-3 deficit to only trailing 3-4. The tension in the air was high as everyone cheered him on, hoping for a strong comeback from Chee Wang. Alas, he dropped the second set 3-6 and the match along with it.
Final score – EH 4:1 KR
After almost 4 hours of play, the tennis guys had secured their spot in the finals. Their victory today was not without hard work and sweat (a lot of it) as their fierce play under the hot sun proved to be all worth it. Let’s continue to give the team even more support as they prepare for their final and most important match of their season!
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