As you can see below: I ended 2008 as number 5 in D-singles of the Champions ranking.
This means, first 8 in each category qualify, I have qualified for this Tournament of Champions!
This means, first 8 in each category qualify, I have qualified for this Tournament of Champions!
Final GLTA Championships Ranking 2008 Men's Singles D:
1. [BEL] Troy Cox
2. [NOR] Sven Erik Dahl
3. [USA] Jo Chen
4. [USA] Pacifico Marquez
5. [GBR] Peter De Bruyni
6. [USA] Matt Green
7. [GBR] Thomas James Kidd
8. [USA] Alan Leighton
9. [USA] Antonio Clarke
10 [USA] James Mrkvicka
11 [GBR] William Dachris
12 [BEL] Alain Michils
13 [USA] Gaetan Barthelemy
14 [USA] Tony Pham
1. [BEL] Troy Cox
2. [NOR] Sven Erik Dahl
3. [USA] Jo Chen
4. [USA] Pacifico Marquez
5. [GBR] Peter De Bruyni
6. [USA] Matt Green
7. [GBR] Thomas James Kidd
8. [USA] Alan Leighton
9. [USA] Antonio Clarke
10 [USA] James Mrkvicka
11 [GBR] William Dachris
12 [BEL] Alain Michils
13 [USA] Gaetan Barthelemy
14 [USA] Tony Pham
This means, first 8 in each category qualify, I have qualified for this Tournament of Champions! Not only have I qualified, I have officially been invited for this tournament by the GLTA Board.
This tournament of champions is even covered and listed by some websites:
The tournament is being held at Burbank Tennis Center.
Below is the seedings and particpants' list of D-singles. And look: I am even 3rd seed!
http://glta.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/seeds.aspx?id=25926
At the Registration Welcome Party in West Hollywood, all players were given a congratulations letter, signed by all GLTA Board members:
At the GLTA Awards Ceremony, West Hollywood Mayor Jeff Prang held a speech and the GLTA Awards 2008 were announced, just like the Oscars.
Also, all qualified players were honoured. Here are all D participants:
And at this Award event, every invited player received a certificate of excellence, handed out by GLTA Board member Mike Myers:
First round is a round robin with 4 players in each group.
My group was called "Blue", and "Davenport", and my opponents are James, Jo and I will also be playing Gaetan, the Belgian guy I met in L.A. last year.
First match, against James (from Chicago), was disturbed by the rain and we had to finish the match later. And because of the rain, matches were played as super set (first to 8 wins).
First match, against James (from Chicago), was disturbed by the rain and we had to finish the match later. And because of the rain, matches were played as super set (first to 8 wins).
As you can see in the video above: rain stopped our play. I was leading 7-6.
I was 0-2 down and 6-3 up, then James came back to 6-6.
Thanks Gaetan for taking photos and videos of the match!
More than 2 hours later, we were able to resume:
And fist in the air: I won 8-6.
Thanks James, you were such a great sport and lots of cheek!
Second match, was against number 1 seed, Jo. Matches were now 1 set only:
A big smile on my face, because after 1-2 down, I kept my nerves and WON 6-2!
This meant I already qualified for the semi-finals after 2 of the 3 first round matches!
Third match against Gaetan I lost 0-6, so he won the group and I ended second.
Here are the results in Group Davenport, Blue:
Results from the other group, Red, Henin:
Next day was Semi-finals and finals day: I played Pacifico from New York City and here we posed for the paperazzi just before the match.
Warming up:
And the match:
Pacifico deservedly won: 6-3, 6-2, so he plays the final.
The final between Pacifico and Tony (who beat Gaetan in the other semi-final) went over 3 sets and in the end Pacifico won.
The video below is matchpoint:
Results of the final round:
Here is a photo of the Top 3 in D-singles, posing for the paperazzi (well, it was Hollywood....). From left to right: Tony, me and Pacifico: (Gaetan had already gone home)
Here are all winners:
So, no trophy for me, but a brilliant result, 3rd!
Last, but certainly not least, thanks so much to my new friends who took these photos and videos for me and who drove me around: Steven and Antonio from NYC, and of course Rodney.
From left to right: Rodney, Steven, me, Pacifico, Antonio. William is sitting in front of us (he qualified for singles and doubles).
And my stats for these Championships:
http://glta.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=095E1461-BAB8-462B-B783-9D6C179C41E0&player=106
Posts
