[acx_slideshow name=”US Open Doubles”]
By MICHAEL CATLING
TOP seeds Paul Price and Clive.I Leach overcame a snow storm and a dramatic semi-final to secure their first-ever U.S Open Doubles Championship with victory over number three seeds Imran Khan and Mark Chaloner in the final at the Philadelphia Country Club.
Price and Leach barely survived a nail-biting semi-final against Matt Jenson and Preston B.Quick on Saturday and with a blizzard affecting travel to the venue, there were doubts whether the final would even go ahead.
But Price and Leach retained their composure amid the disruptions to open up a 2-0 advantage. Although their opponents responded by halving the deficit, the number one seeds saved three-game balls in the fourth before prevailing in a tie-break.
Chaloner was looking to win the title for a second time after partnering Chris Walker to victory in 2010, but he could not repeat the feat alongside Khan as they fell to a disappointing 15-8, 15-10, 11-15, 15-14 loss.
Meanwhile in the women’s draw, Narelle T. Krizek and Suzanna Pierrepont cruised past Alexandra Clark and Amy E. Gross 3-0 to win the prestigious title and ensure they went the entire tournament without dropping a game.
The unseeded Clarke and Gross caused a major upset by beating number two seeds Stephanie Hewitt and Natarsha T.McElhinny in the quarter finals, but came unstuck against Krizek and Pierrepont as the number one seeds lived up to their billing as the pre-tournament favourites with a 15-6, 15-7, 15-11 win.
Their U.S. Open title marks Krizek & Pierrepont’s seventh successive WDSA title as partners and third title in the 2013-2014 season.
While the U.S. Open marks the final date on the 2013 WDSA tour calendar, the SDA now looks ahead to the $100,000 Briggs Cup – its largest prize money tournament of the year – at the Apawamis Club in New York.
Final – Men’s Result:
[1] Paul Price / Clive I.Leach 3-1 [3] Imran Khan / Mark Chaloner 15-8, 15-10, 11-15, 15-14
Semi-Final – Men’s Results:
[1] Paul Price / Clive I.Leach 3-2 [4] Matt Jenson / Preston B.Quick 15-11, 8-15, 14-15, 15-14, 15-14
[3] Imran Khan / Mark Chaloner 3-1 John Russell / Freddie Reid 15-10, 9-15, 15-11, 15-14
Final – Women’s Result:
[1] Narelle T. Krizek / Suzanna Pierrepont 3-1 Alexandra Clark / Amy E. Gross 15-6, 15-7, 15-11
Semi-Final – Women’s Results:
[1] Narelle T. Krizek / Suzanna Pierrepont 3-0 [4] Dana A. Betts / Sarah C. West 15-14, 15-7, 15-10
Alexandra Clark / Amy E. Gross 3-1 Heidi Mather / Victoria Simmonds 10-15, 15-6, 15-10, 15-12