A men’s top seed looks for a second straight singles title, while two teens battle for the women’s singles crown to highlight the final day of the Icy Hot TVOC Tennis tournament this morning at Manker Patten Tennis Club.
Former U. of Georgia player and 2015 champ Nathan Pasha takes on No.2 seed Harrison O’Keefe in the men’s open singles final, while top-seeded and Vanderbilt bound Emma Kurtz takes on unseeded McCartney Kessler in the women’s singles final.
Kessler is in three finals as she and Kurtz are in the women’s doubles at 11 a.m. and Kessler and older brother McClain Kessler are in the mixed open final at 1.
Pasha Goes For Two: At six or seven, Nathan Pasha raised his hand to participate in a one day a week tennis clinic at the Boys and Girls Club in Atlanta. The once-a-week lessons quickly moved to five days a week and within a decade the quick-learning Atlanta native had won a super winter nationals in the 14s, a national 16s clay courts and the national 18s hardcourts doubles (Kalamazoo).
“I played in my first tournament at the age of eight or nine and worked my way up pretty fast,” said Pasha.
The TVOC is the start of his summer tournament tour and heads to Australia in September to play that circuit.
“The TVOC is a good tournament to play especially with the money offered and the hospitality is great with the meals provided and a well run event,” he stated.
Sunday Finals
9 a.m. –
Women’s Open Singles – No.1 Emma Kurtz vs. McCartney Kessler
Men’s Open – No.1 Nathan Pasha vs. No.2 Harrison O’Keefe
11 a.m. –
Women’s Open Doubles - Emma Kurtz-McCartney Kessler vs. Ansley Speaks-Danielle Vines
Men’s Open Doubles – No.1 Vikram Hundal-Nathan Pasha vs. No.3 Julian Bradley-Harrison O’Keefe
1 p.m. –
Mixed Open Doubles
McClain Kessler-McCartney Kessler vs. Lucas Plesky-Ansley Speaks
Age Division Finals
9 a.m.
Men’s 35s Singles - Jon Thorstenson vs. Derrick Racine
Men’s 55s Singles – Gino Bulso vs. No.2 John Mahorner
Men’s 75s Singles – Arthur Serio vs. Walt Murphy
10:30 a.m. –
Men’s 45s Singles – Gordon Williams vs. Philip Johnson
Men’s 65s Singles - Chuck Maland vs. Richard Johnson
Noon
Men’s 35s Doubles – Derrick Racine-Sachin Kirtane vs. Chris Kiser-Renato Mizutani
Men’s 45s Doubles- Chris Kisr-Renato Mizuzani vs. Derrick Racine-partner
Men’s 55 Doubles – Stephen Crofford-Bill Davis vs. Tomas Blanno-Eduardo Garibaldi
Men’s 65s Doubles – Walt Murphy-John Nixon vs. Louis Buquo-Robert Rahn
1:30 p.m.
Men’s 45s Doubles – Eric Voges-Gordon Williams vs. Robert Fisher-Jon Thorstenson
Women’s 45s Singles - Rosario Sanchez vs. Mary Emanuel
Saturday Semifinals Results
Men’s Open Singles – No.1 Nathan Pasha def. No.3 McClain Kessler, 6-2, 6-2; No.2 Harrison O’Keefe def. Julian Bradley, 0-6, 6-2, 6-4
Women’s Open Singles - No.1 Emma Kurtz def. Danielle Vines, 6-0, 6-2; McCartney Kessler def. Caitlyn Merzbacher, 6-1, 6-2
Men’s Open Doubles
No.1 Vikram Hundal-Nathan Pasha def. No.4 Steven Karl-McClain Kessler , 6-1, 7-6
No.3 Julian Bradley-Harrison O’Keefe def. No.2 Lance Cohen-Samir Iftikhar, 6-0, 6-2
Women’s Open Doubles
McCartney Kessler-Emma Kurtz def. Stephanie Kent-Caitlyn Merzbacher, 6-2, 6-0
Danielle Vines-Ansley Speaks def. Kayla Jones-Kenya Jones, 7-6, 1-6, 10-8
Mixed Open Doubles
McClain Kessler- McCartney Kessler def. Kenya Jones-John Peacey, 6-3, 6-4
Men’s 45s Singles - Gordon Williams def. Kevin Potts, 6-4, 1-6, 10-2; Philip Johnson def. John Sorrow, 6-3, 6-1
Men’s 55s Singles – Gino Bulso def. No.1 Dennis Covington, 6-2, 6-4; No.2 John Mahorner def. No.3 Eduardo Garibaldi, 6-1, 6-0
Men’s 65s Singles - Chuck Maland def. Louis Buquo, 6-0, 6-2; Richard Johnson def. Jim Roberts, 6-4, 6-4
Men’s 75s Singles - Arthur Serio def. Milburn Price, 6-4, 7-5; Walt Murphy def. Jack Scruggs, 2-6, 1-1 retired injury
Men’s 35s Doubles – Chris Kiser-Renato Mizutani def. Ben Fisher-Gordon Williams, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6; Derrick Racine-Shachin Kirtane def. Stephen Sabourin-John Spiller, 6-0, 6-1
Men’s 45s Doubles - Eric Voges-Gordon Williams def. Tommy Boone-John Sorrow, 6-0, 6-1; Robert Fisher-Jon Thorstenson def. Brian Thomas-Michael O’Brien, 6-4, 6-1
Men’s 55s Doubles - Stephen Crofford-Bill Davis def. Thorny Strang-Mike Parker, 6-2, 6-3; Tomas Blanno-Eduardo Garibaldi def. Dennis Covington-Benny Jones, 6-0, 6-3
Men’s 65s Doubles - Round Robin
Walt Murphy-John Nixon def. Jack Scruggs-Billy Smalley, 6-1, 6-2
Louis Buquo-Robert Rahn def. Jack Scruggs-Billy Smalley, 6-0, 6-3
Third match to be played Sunday
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net