The sun was brutal, the humidity was high, and the heat on the tennis courts was 107 degrees!!! Most would say the conditions were extreme, but so were the competitors that came from all over the Rio Grande Valley to compete in the H.E.B. Summer Tennis Classic. Beginning on Friday evening, all 18 courts had tennis players as young as eight years old to their mid 70's pounding the tennis ball as hard as they could. The sounds of serves, frustrations, and jubilation filled the air in a symphony unlike any other. And underneath it all, you could almost hear sizzle.
Yes, it was extreme; however, the first day saw the favorites advance to the next rounds. We witnessed the Home Grown Warriors attacking their opponents mercilessly, as if to say: "This is MY house! and if you can't stand the heat, I'll throw the whole kitchen out with you in it!".
Slowly, the victims fell by the way side as tennis warriors attacked and sliced their way through the competition. Tennis martial artists such as Catherine Weber, Daniel Bracken, Sarah Lopez, Audrey Hernandez, and Ramon Borjas explained life to those who dared challenge. The first day saw many weepings and gnashings of teeth as one by one fell by the wayside. At the end of 
the day; however, those left standing would have to return to the battle field the following day.
The second day, was hotter than the first. "My truck shows it's 107 degrees out here. Come look!", one of the high school coaches said incredulously. Although no one cared to admit it, we didn't have to look at the temperature gauge to know it was correct. You could almost smell burning flesh. Was it from the sun? Or was it from the heat the players were bringing with their, over 100 mile per hour first serves?
Thomas Stillman faced Warren Prescott early in the morning. Prescott is no light weight. Although Stillman defeated him in
straight sets: win, lose or draw; tomorrow he will awaken and know he was in a battle. "He just has too much offense", said Prescott post-game. "I didn't think he would get to everything the way he did". Prescott ran Stillman side to side, controlling the point only to have Stillman turn defense into offense at the last minute and hit a winner numerous times throughout.
C
hris Breadbasket faced Bob Kire on another court. The first set would go the distance with Chris beating Kire 7 - 5. The match would be riddled, not with bullets, but with serious passive-agressive remarks to get under the opponent's skin. In the end, Chris kept his composure and cut down his errors, breaking Kire in the next to last game of the first set. Sitting within ear shot of me, some spectators that were rooting for Chris began to say:"Kire will soon tire". Their prophecy would come to pass as Chris defeated Kire in the second set easily. The final score being: 7 - 5, 6 - 3.
Becky Borjas and Brigette Tolentino faced young opponents on both days. The first day saw them hand their opponents a 
stinging tennis lesson. Their foes suffered a crushing defeat as the team showed them what it was like to be a true tennis veteran. The young team tried to take Tolentino's strong net play away by lobbing several times only to have Becky Borjas send high, deep lobs right back. The lobs were like bombs to them. Whenever they would hit a short ball, Borjas would pound it back for a winner or Tolentino would put it away at the net with her vicious volleys. The team of Becky Borjas and Brigette Tolentino went on to win the match 6 - 1, 6 - 2.
Adriana "Audrey" Hernandez would emerge as the women's champion of the 2008 Summer Tennis Classic. She defeated Catherine Weber in a battle that spectators said was the hardest they had ever seen two women hit a tennis ball. Catherine Weber would not be denied and went on to win the doubles finals with her partner. All these great matches on day two of the tournament.
Day three gave us the men's finals and the men's doubles finals, both of which included Edward Martinez and Thomas Stillman. The men's finals began promptly at 9 a.m. Martinez relentlessly attacked Stillman by
running around his backhand and hitting bombs. Stillman's defense, in the end, would prove to strong as he would hit shots deep into Martinez' forehand side to open up the backhand side. Both players had great movement and were in top physical conditioning for a final that was everything the spectators were expecting to see. The match, just like a "Rocky" movie, would go the distance as they split sets decisively. In the third set, Thomas Stillman played too consistently and kept his composure a little too well and took the championship.
The 2008 Summer Classic lived up to everything it was promoted to be. Parents and friends and enemies enjoying mortal combat in the greatest tennis arena in the Rio Grande Valley. Battle in over one hundred degree temperature. RGVTennis.com congratulates all the winners and all that participated.
Thomas Stillman - 2008 Men's Summer Tennis Classic Champion
Related Articles: Stillman Impresses at the 2008 Summer Tennis Classic! , Post - match Championship Interview
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