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By Errol “DynamiX” Alegre, Jr.
George Lai served three straight aces in the first and second set to aid his team in the win. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)
The first ever Guam Masters Games kicked off Monday morning with the best local tennis players competing in the doubles tournament at the Hilton tennis court.
After an early morning and late afternoon full of elimination games, George Lai and Benson Au Yeung earned bronze in the 40+ men’s doubles tournament after defeating Tony Camacho and John Sanchez in two sets, 6-0, 6-2.
The game started early with each team feeling each other out. But after a few serves, Lai and Au Yeung got their rhythm going and aced their way to a dominating 6-0 first set win.
“We just wanted to play our usual game – relaxed, having fun, and playing to win,” stated Lai on their game plan for the match.
Camacho and Sanchez knew they needed the second set in order to have a chance for the bronze. Although they let the first game get away from them, they managed to turn the tables around to put their first point on the board off a good hit by Sanchez following a short rally, leaving the second set score at one apiece.
Tony Camacho serves the ball while his teammate, John Sanchez, looks for a return. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)
Lai and Au Yeung competed even harder and managed to take the next three games by demonstrating good returns and placement of their shots. After a first game that was won almost entirely on serves, this game featured more rallies. This began to play in Camacho and Sanchez’ favor as they managed to take game six after a hard smash by Camacho, leaving the score 4-2.
Lai, being put at the service line, went back to what he’s good at and served up three straight aces to take an easy game seven. Au Yeung made the eighth game just as quick as he gave no chance for Camacho and Sanchez to score by smashing each serve with no return, putting the score at 40-love. With the match on the line, both teams gave an exciting rally but another smash by Au Yeung went unreturned, giving his team the game, set, and match along with the bronze medal.
The gold and silver medal games are set to continue on Wednesday at the Hilton tennis court.
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