HEIDELBERG, Germany — The 2003 U.S. Forces-Europe tennis championships are a three-day event, but Darmstadt’s Roy Tannis wasn’t interested in spending his entire weekend in USAREUR’s headquarters community.
“I didn’t want to have to come back tomorrow,” Tannis said after he outgunned U.K. star Sundy Muniz 6-2, 6-1 in the men’s open final, moved from Sunday morning to Saturday afternoon by mutual agreement.
Going into the final, it looked as though moving the match up would just hasten the inevitable. Tannis had displayed remarkable control and power in Friday’s 6-0, 6-0 quarterfinal victory over Daniel Baldez and his semifinal romp Saturday morning over Stephen King by the same score.
But Muniz not only became the first player here to win games from Tannis, he forced the Darmstadt ace to modify his formidable service game.
“He’s such a good player, I tried to slow things down,” Tannis said. “I tried to spin it in and keep it away from his very good forehand return.”
Tannis’ accurate first serve wasn’t the only aspect of his game that put Muniz on the defensive.
“What gave me the most trouble was that he kept hitting winners,” Muniz said. “He was too quick. He has the legs and lungs of a 20-year-old. He ran everything down.”
Muniz played just one match in the tournament before facing Tannis. He blitzed Ryan Warner 6-2, 6-2 in Friday’s quarterfinals and received an injury default from scheduled semifinal foe Paul Estrada on Saturday morning.
But it takes more than fresh legs to handle Tannis.
“I played relatively well,” Tannis said.
In other matches Saturday, Philisa Legner and Christina Miklas moved into Sunday’s women’s title match with straight-set victories. Legner downed Maria Williams 7-6, 6-3, while Miklas stopped Lindsay Wallace 6-2, 6-3.
In the men’s seniors final for players aged 30-39, Doug Whitney will be taking on Jim Hewitt. Whitney downed Jerry Swedland 6-2, 6-0 in Saturday’s semis; Hewitt fended off David Ward 7-5, 0-6, 6-4.
Jeff Rice and Dennis Kirstein made Sunday’s men’s masters final for players 40 years and older. Rice defeated Kevin Kirkendau 6-0, 6-1 on Saturday; Kirstein edged Jim Moss 7-6, 3-6, 7-5.
Also at stake Sunday will be the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles crowns. Matches begin at 9 a.m. at the Heidelberg Tennis Center at Patrick Henry Villlage.
U.S. Forces-Europe championships
HEIDELBERG, Germany — Results from the three-day 2003 U.S. Forces tennis championships, which end Sunday at the Heidelberg Tennis Center on Patrick Henry Village (tie-breaker scores and participants’ communities are unavailable):
Men’s open (29-and-younger)
Friday’s matches — Dante Franco def. Charles Matcals 6-2, 6-1; Erik Garza def. Mark Villa 6-1, 6-3; Ryan Warner def. Thierry Ngaufau 6-0, 7-5; Stephen King def. Stefen Kosovych 6-0, 6-1; Eric Norris def. Franco 6-3, 6-3; Paul Estrada def. Brian Walsh 6-1, 6-0; David Diaz def. Garza 6-3, 7-5. Quarterfinals: Roy Tannis def. Daniel Baldez 6-0, 6-0; King def. Norris 7-5, 0-6, 7-6; Estrada def. Diaz 6-1, 6-3; Sundy Muniz def. R. Warner 6-2, 6-2.
Saturday’s semifinals — Tannis def. King 6-0, 6-0; Muniz by default over Estrada.
Saturday’s championship — Tannis def. Muniz 6-2, 6-1.
Men’s seniors (30-39 years)
Friday’s matches — Jerry Swedland def. Robin Hedrick 6-2, 6-0; Nate Strong def. Derek Gainey 6-1, 5-7, 6-3; Victor Malbrough def. Joe Spencer 6-0, 6-0. Quarterfinals: Doug Whitney def. Swedland 6-1, 6-3; Greg Mays def. Strong 7-5, 6-1; Thurmond Johnson def. Malbrough 4-6, 7-6, 1-0, retired; Jim Hewitt def. David Ward 7-5, 0-6, 6-2.
Saturday’s semifinals — Whitney def. Mays 6-3, 7-6; Hewitt def. Johnson 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Sunday’s championship — Whitney vs. Hewitt, 9 a.m.
Men’s masters (40-and-older)
Friday’s matches — David Ralphs def. Scott Jarrow 6-0, 6-0; Kevin Kirkendau def. Peter Williams 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Jim Matosek def. Mark Warner 6-3, 6-4. Quarterfinals: Jeff Rice def. Ralphs 6-4, 6-4; Kirkendau def. David Rogers 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Dennis Kirstein def. Tom Floyd 6-2, 6-2; Jim Moss def. Matosek 6-4, 6-3.
Saturday’s semifinals — Rice def. Kirkendau 6-0, 6-1; Kirstein def. Moss 7-6, 3-6, 7-5.
Sunday’s championship — Rice vs. Kirstein, 9 a.m.
Men’s doubles
Saturday’s early matches — Brian Sporrer and Swedland def. Metcals and Kosovych 6-1, 6-0; Rogers and Ralphs def. M. Warner and Kirstein 6-0, 6-1; Strong and Ward def. Michael Czajka and Ngaufau 6-0, 6-0; Rice and Whitney def. Jarrow and Sporrer 6-0, 6-0.
Sunday’s championship — 1:30 p.m.
Women’s singles
Friday’s matches — Carrie McCallister def. Vicky Elwood 6-3, 6-3. Quarterfinals: Philisa Legner def. Linda Hewitt 6-0, 6-1; Christina Miklas def. McCallister 6-2, 6-2; Maria Williams and Lindsay Wallace advanced by default.
Saturday’s semifinals — Legner def. Williams 7-6, 6-3; Miklas def. Wallace 6-2, 6-3.
Women’s doubles
Saturday’s early match — Leah Craiglow and Alison Pienta def. Miklas and Lauren Rine 7-5, 6-1.
Sunday’s championship — 1:30 p.m.
Mixed doubles
Saturday’s early match — P. Williams and M. Williams def. Keith Scott and Angelias Frankoy 6-2, 6-2.
Sunday’s championship — 1:30 p.m.
