In a clash of coaching titans, Matt Brooklyn overcame Piotrs Necajevs today by a count of 6-4, 7-6 (5). Necajevs hadn’t dropped a set all weekend long, while Brooklyn had dropped two yesterday en route to the Final. It was fitting that Brooklyn, the Georgetown Assistant Coach, was declared the champion today, as he was the one who had defeated defending champion Damon Gooch the day before.
Brooklyn’s powerful backhand had him pinning his opponent deep in the corners early in the first set. Necajevs recovered nicely in the second set, but the tiebreak got away from him with Brooklyn winning the last four points and five out of the last six. Necajevs, the Detroit Titans Women’s Head Coach, did go on to win the Mixed Doubles title with Sophia Abelson 6-2, 6-1 hours later.
In the women’s final, overwhelming favorite Nina Kukharchuk erased any doubts about who was the best woman of the sectional with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Monet Willis.
Brooklyn, Kukharchuk, Necajevs and Abelson are off to New Haven for a late August meeting with destiny. Brooklyn and Kukharchuk are no more than four wins from a qualifying wild card for singles at the US Open. Abelson and Necajevs are three or four wins away from a main draw wild card in mixed doubles.
As always, the Tennis Center at College Park/Junior Tennis Champions Center and USTA/MAS ran a great event. There are only 360 practice days before next year’s event. Ready? Play!
Results
| F | Abelson/Necajevs d. Chambers/Jordan | 6-2; 6-1 |
| F | Nika Kukharchuk d. Monet Willis | 6-0; 6-0 |
| F | Matt Brooklyn d. Pjotrs Necajevs | 6-4; 7-6(7-5) |
Tennis Atlantic 