Marcus second tournament:

I am so sorry that this is late. I have been busy, but as your support was so great for my sons first tournament I wanted to let you know how he did in his second tournament. This tournament was the Montana State Junior Open. The appeal of this tournament is that the best players from all over Montana play here. For that reason we put Marcus in the 10s singles and doubles. Marcus had played 12s before, but we knew that there would be a better caliber of player here. Players could only enter three events if they play mixed doubles so the mixed doubles event was huge. What we didnt realize was that most players decided to play two events, say the 12s and the 14s singles and so apart from mixed doubles the doubles draws were small. In fact, there was only one entry for doubles 10s (Marcus and his partner) and so they were moved up to the 12s where there were two other teams waiting for them. I wish that I had entered Marcus in 10s & 12s singles but we were not to know.

Well to the action. Marcus, again, received a horrible draw. He was drawn against Hunter Blalack who was the #1 seed. Hunter is only ten, but is currently ranked #3 12s in the State. We went to see Hunters first match in the 12s. He does not have huge weapons, but is very consistent. Hunter expressed to his father that playing a little seven year old would be a cake walk. However, Marcus broke him in the first game of the match. Afterwards, Hunter broke back and held serve. Then, Marcus held serve. What was amazing to me was to watch Marcus construct points. It was almost like the match was played on slow clay. Both players would move the other player to a position where they could confidently go for a winner or they had their opponent in a position where they would play a shot which would end up being an error. Marcus held game points in the fifth and sixth games of the set, but alas did not get another game for the rest of the match, going down 6-2, 6-0. I was so proud of him though as it could have easily been 4-2 to Marcus in the first set and he held game points in five games that he did not win. At one point half way through the first set Hunter looked at his parents and shrugged his shoulders. It was a magical moment as I could tell Marcus had him worried, but Hunters class and experience won through.

Marcus consolation match drew him against his doubles partner Olin. Olins father has worked with Marcus and they have played a number of single sets against each other. It was Olin who had defeated Marcus and made him cry. You might remember I came here looking for advice, but Marcus has an edge over Olin in the sets they have played. Olin is taller, five months older and has a father who has played college ice hockey and a mother who played college tennis for the University of Miami. Olin is a great lad, they are good friends. Olin also has an amazingly strong forehand and serve even if both can be erratic. Going into the match I thought Olin would win and I was not happy at all that they would be playing each other. I thought it was a horrible draw for Marcus.

The match started outside. They were using 11 outside courts for the tournament and four inside. Marcus started amazingly well and Olin was erratic. As Olin was serving at 1-4 in the first set a thunderstorm blew in. All the players on the outside court were moved into the players lounge and their matches were rescheduled inside. This meant an amazing wait and also meant that players, parents and spectators were crowded between the inside courts, the lounge etc. After about a half an hour Marcus and Olin were moved onto court 3 inside. They had spent their break sitting down together talking and having fun. Marcus wrapped up the first set 6-3, but it was clear Olin was playing better. He was reading Marcus serve and hitting the ball with amazing pace (I wonder, when it comes to 7 & 8 year olds, what is more important long term, consistency or power? Id love to know as Marcus does not have nearly the power Olin has but is consistent).

The second set was a completely different story. Marcus held to open the set, but then lost the next six games. As it was a consolation match it would be settled by a championship tie breaker in lieu of a third set. Understand, it was not that Marcus was playing badly, just that Olin was on fire. I couldnt believe how well he was hitting the ball. In the final game of the second set Marcus lost a point that I thought was at 0-30 to make it 0-40. At that point he lost it and hit the court hard with his racquet at least five or six times. The umpire/USTA Official (there were about four covering 15 courts before the storm now there was one at each court) started by warning him but as he continued she deducted a point. Some people around me thought the point would be awarded in the tie break, but I think that point was the set point.

You have to understand that going into the tie break that most of the people present were watching Marcus match, it was the most exciting, also it involved a seven year old and an eight year old playing great tennis. In addition, there is a gangway down the middle of the courts (between courts 2 & 3) with only limited seating at the far ends of courts 1 & 4. Courts 2 & 3 were the easiest courts to watch and court 3 had the attention of most of the fellow players, parents etc. There were easily 160+ people watching Marcus match and they had just watched his first ever melt down on the court. To be honest I was pleased (I am not sure if I should have been, let me know if I am wrong here). I was too far away to say anything to Marcus or give him a look about his behavior. Also I thought the umpire made her point well. I have not said anything to him since. I was pleased that he was so ticked off and had some fire in his belly. I did call afterwards through the netting to tell him to forget the second set and focus on the tie break.

The champions tie break started off close (Marcus hit a fantastic lob that landed in the corner). Before long they were changing ends for the second time at 6-6. It was then that Olin nudged ahead. Marcus was 7-9 down and facing two match points. He was serving and his first serve hit the net. The second was a let, and I was just praying that it wouldnt end in a double fault (he had served well). Marcus won the point. After he saved the second match point I jumped and must have shouted as Marcus told me what I did after the match. Then somehow Marcus got his nose in front at 10-9. Marcus took his first match point for an 11-9 win when Olin hit a backhand just out. Everyone watching were clapping. I was the other end of the court away from Olins family and friends who were numerous. The players shook hands, shook the umps hand and went back to pick up there stuff (even though there was a bench either side of the umpires chair they had decided to sit together and even talked during change overs). At that point it was clear that Olin had lost it and was crying. Marcus looked concern and Olins father came over to try and console him and then took him behind the curtains. I gave Marcus such a hug and then he turned in the scores. He was happy he had won, but was clearly worn out by the experience and concerned about his friend. It was a strange moment, I was over the moon and yet heavy hearted. I did say "sorry" to Olins mother, but we left shortly after the match without talking to Olin or his father. Marcus was through to the consolation final.

The next morning Olin and Marcus took to the court against two good, older doubles players. As there were only three doubles teams the format was round robin. The matches were one eight game pro-set. Marcus & Olin went down 8-2 in a bland match where they were really outclassed. Afterwards, Olins dad shared that he was under the weather and they conceded the second doubles match. It was a shame, I would have liked Marcus to win a doubles match so that he could gain a doubles ranking.

Later in the day we returned for Marcus consolation final. It was neat as he was playing another Bozeman kid who is two months younger. I thought Marcus would win easily. This match was such an anti-climax to the previous days matches. It was on a corner outside court with just my wife, daughter and I cheering on Marcus and four family members cheering on Marcus opponent, Noah. Marcus started well and took a set point at 5-1, but somehow he managed to forget what the score was and the two players settled on a score of ad-in. Marcus lost the next three points but ended up winning the first set 6-3 (parents cannot help with scoring or offer advice).

During the second set, Marcus looked bored often. I felt awful as it was the first competitive match that my wife was able to watch and Marcus just looked distracted. He ended up being 4-1 down and even though he recovered to lead at 5-4 he lost the set 7-5. I was shocked and worried, but Marcus ran away with the champions tie break and won it 10-2. One of the points he had given up was a double fault. I am not sure what happened, I wonder if Marcus threw the second set so he could get back to the excitement of a tie breaker, who knows. Too much tennis maybe. A feeling that he could win this match easily, I think also Noah didnt hit the ball nearly as hard as his two previous opponents, who knows, but Marcus won and I must admit if you look at the consolation draw it is neat to see Marcus name standing alone at the end.

Marcus will not play another tournament for a while, but he cant wait to do this again. Any advice youd like to offer after reading this would be appreciated. I am not a tennis player at all and so much of this is so new to me.

Sorry so long, but instead of writing this over three days, work got in the way and you have three days of action here in one report.

Here is the singles draw, you can access the other draws and hit consolation to see Marcus name standing proudly, alone at the end.

http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/Draws/EventDraw.aspx?T=55408&E=18