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Arts
Tennis
by Kate Shoup Welsh
Aug 14, 2002

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Tennis is me
by Mary Lee Pappas
Jul 23, 2003

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ABCs of the RCAs
by Mary Lee Pappas
Jul 14, 2004

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From Wimbledon to Indy
by Katie Engle
Jul 12, 2006

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Huss and Phillips sweat to success
by RCA Tennis
Jul 12, 2006

Surface of the sun
by Colin Dullaghan Jun 25, 2003

Sports Review | What you missed

Just before high noon on Sunday, June 22, the first set of the Pearson Ford Open tennis finals is getting underway. There in the blazing sun, around 40 spectators sit quietly in the bleachers, careful not to shift too dramatically on the searing metal benches. Periodically, a muted yelp from somewhere in the upper sections signals a careless shorts-wearer.

Matt Behrmann in action, playing the final match

Out on the court, No. 4 seed Matt Behrmann faces off against No. 7 Jeff Laski, each having beaten four challengers over the last few grueling days. The winner gets a spot in the qualifying rounds of the RCA championships, to compete against the top-ranked players in the world. Both also competed in the Doubles contests this weekend, lunging and scampering around on a concrete cooktop when logic would seem to dictate seeking shade. Laski and Behrmann trade victories for the first four sets, each soaking his respective shirt and growing noisier and more expressive as the match wears on. Then Behrmann seems to see something, possibly fatigue, in his mortal opponent. In the end, Behrmann pulls ahead, winning consecutive sets to close the match. At the awards ceremony, the players sigh a lot and manage to grin for the photos with sponsor John Pearson, who makes no mention of their pungency. Kathy Risacher, tournament director, points out this year’s “incredible amount of parity” between the competitors and that she “really put these guys through their paces.” Spectators nod forcefully and form a single-file line in front of 2 square feet of shade discovered under a lamppost.

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