TJTC WORLD TOUR

Being one of the few tournaments left before tour dictator, Angus, returns, the players were determined to give a good showing at the 2012 Olympics. In top half action, the self-deluded reigning Wimbledon champion, Mullings, was the one to beat. He made light work of a nervous Davis who felt he needed to go for winners to beat Mullings, instead of depending on his more reliable counter punching game. Next up, it was a match up between Watson and Morrison. Still on his way to becoming match tough, Watson cruised through the first set 6-3, but a mixture of rust coupled with fight from Morrison, saw Watson requiring a tough second set tie break to close out the match. Then it was time for the prehistoric number one McDonald, to start his Olympic campaign against the up and coming and quietly cocky, Brown. McDonald was well aware that Brown usually requires a full set to warm up and would then make late second set push, and so he simply stood his ground and remained consistent and comfortably moved on to the next round. Then, the rancorous two-time titlist and Wimbledon finalist, Bartley, began his medal campaign in fine form, easily powering Allen into submission.

In bottom half round of 16 action, the psychotic tour brat, Douglas, sent a stern warning to the field by mowing down a shocked Grant 1 and 1. Then it was the former shock five-minute number one, Stanley’s turn to face the Russian captain Ewan. For the second tournament in a row, after a brilliant display of blistering forehands coupled with ever improving backhands and serves, Ewan pulled out of the match under mysterious circumstances after being in a commanding position during the match. This is very disappointing, especially because he is known to give advice and encouragement to other tour players and has continued to show remarkable improvement in his game. In fact, tapes have surfaced which show Ewan blowing top players off the practice courts, sometimes within hours of pulling out of a tournament. Without question, he is well on his way to becoming the tour’s most accomplished underachiever should this behaviour continue. To round out the round of 16s, Livingston held off a persistent Morris in three sets, and tour opportunist, Chambers, realizing that he did not have to face Davis as he had to in two previous tries, made a desperate push, mowing down Madhoo to once again make another round.

In quarters action, Mullings failed to show against Watson. While the Russian camp claims this was due to a ‘respiratory illness’, unconfirmed reports suggest that he failed a random drug test. Allegedly, traces of as much as 5 strains of horse tranquilizers were found in his blood, leaving doctors amazed he is still able to breathe. Is this a Russian trend? Then, it was a repeat of the Wimbledon clash between McDonald and Bartley. McDonald raced to 4-0 in the final set thriller, but thanks to a colossal series of forehand passes and winners, Bartley had point for 5 all but shockingly failed to convert on a forehand error allowing a relieved McDonald to snatch the victory. Bartley seems to relish dramatic clashes with the Spaniards, but McDonald would have none of it on this day. In the other quarters matches, tour opportunist, Chambers, was too relieved to not have to face Davis again and made the most of it by naggingly resisting a tough fight from a tournament rusty, Livingston. Then it was the tour brat’s turn again against Stanley. Showing why he was number one for a few minutes, Stanley displayed text book tennis in the first set, and even as his 5-1 lead began to slip, he held firm by winning the tie break at love. However, he later fell into Douglas’ trap by no longer going for power forehand winners but instead trying to beat Douglas at his slice and dice game, which the remainder of the scoreline showed was just short of impossible.

Then it was on to an all Spanish final, with McDonald finally being able to reach this far in his ‘second career’. The last they met, Douglas beat McDonald so vengefully, he almost retired from the sport again. This time around, McDonald was prepared. In set one, he made it clear to Douglas that things would not be so easy this time around, by mowing him down at love. However, as expected, the deranged tour brat raised the level of his game and raced off to a big second set lead which McDonald could not level in time. At 2 all in set three, play was suspended due to poor light. When the match resumed, Douglas again powered to a quick lead over a nervous McDonald. After settling in, McDonald made a last minute push, but Douglas would not be denied and finally won his elusive first tour title, and what better one to win than the Olympic gold, a title which he will hold for at least four years. And so it is gold and silver for Spain with the bronze medal match yet to be decided.

As we prepare to put the Olympics behind us, we are getting ready to celebrate the TJTC tour’s first anniversary with the Rogers Cup. Things are beginning to get exciting because soon after the Rogers Cup is decided, we will see the return of a few top players including the enigmatic Elliott, the dramatic Plunkett, and none other than the tour dictator himself, Angus. And so the tour continues to grow from success to success.

Being one of the few tournaments left before tour dictator, Angus, returns, the players were determined to give a good showing at the 2012 Olympics. In top half action, the self-deluded reigning Wimbledon champion, Mullings, was the one to beat. He made light work of a nervous Davis who felt he needed to go for winners to beat Mullings, instead of depending on his more reliable counter punching game. Next up, it was a match up between Watson and Morrison. Still on his way to becoming match tough, Watson cruised through the first set 6-3, but a mixture of rust coupled with fight from Morrison, saw Watson requiring a tough second set tie break to close out the match. Then it was time for the prehistoric number one McDonald, to start his Olympic campaign against the up and coming and quietly cocky, Brown. McDonald was well aware that Brown usually requires a full set to warm up and would then make late second set push, and so he simply stood his ground and remained consistent and comfortably moved on to the next round. Then, the rancorous two-time titlist and Wimbledon finalist, Bartley, began his medal campaign in fine form, easily powering Allen into submission.

In bottom half round of 16 action, the psychotic tour brat, Douglas, sent a stern warning to the field by mowing down a shocked Grant 1 and 1. Then it was the former shock five-minute number one, Stanley’s turn to face the Russian captain Ewan. For the second tournament in a row, after a brilliant display of blistering forehands coupled with ever improving backhands and serves, Ewan pulled out of the match under mysterious circumstances after being in a commanding position during the match. This is very disappointing, especially because he is known to give advice and encouragement to other tour players and has continued to show remarkable improvement in his game. In fact, tapes have surfaced which show Ewan blowing top players off the practice courts, sometimes within hours of pulling out of a tournament. Without question, he is well on his way to becoming the tour’s most accomplished underachiever should this behaviour continue. To round out the round of 16s, Livingston held off a persistent Morris in three sets, and tour opportunist, Chambers, realizing that he did not have to face Davis as he had to in two previous tries, made a desperate push, mowing down Madhoo to once again make another round.

In quarters action, Mullings failed to show against Watson. While the Russian camp claims this was due to a ‘respiratory illness’, unconfirmed reports suggest that he failed a random drug test. Allegedly, traces of as much as 5 strains of horse tranquilizers were found in his blood, leaving doctors amazed he is still able to breathe. Is this a Russian trend? Then, it was a repeat of the Wimbledon clash between McDonald and Bartley. McDonald raced to 4-0 in the final set thriller, but thanks to a colossal series of forehand passes and winners, Bartley had point for 5 all but shockingly failed to convert on a forehand error allowing a relieved McDonald to snatch the victory. Bartley seems to relish dramatic clashes with the Spaniards, but McDonald would have none of it on this day. In the other quarters matches, tour opportunist, Chambers, was too relieved to not have to face Davis again and made the most of it by naggingly resisting a tough fight from a tournament rusty, Livingston. Then it was the tour brat’s turn again against Stanley. Showing why he was number one for a few minutes, Stanley displayed text book tennis in the first set, and even as his 5-1 lead began to slip, he held firm by winning the tie break at love. However, he later fell into Douglas’ trap by no longer going for power forehand winners but instead trying to beat Douglas at his slice and dice game, which the remainder of the scoreline showed was just short of impossible.

Then it was on to an all Spanish final, with McDonald finally being able to reach this far in his ‘second career’. The last they met, Douglas beat McDonald so vengefully, he almost retired from the sport again. This time around, McDonald was prepared. In set one, he made it clear to Douglas that things would not be so easy this time around, by mowing him down at love. However, as expected, the deranged tour brat raised the level of his game and raced off to a big second set lead which McDonald could not level in time. At 2 all in set three, play was suspended due to poor light. When the match resumed, Douglas again powered to a quick lead over a nervous McDonald. After settling in, McDonald made a last minute push, but Douglas would not be denied and finally won his elusive first tour title, and what better one to win than the Olympic gold, a title which he will hold for at least four years. And so it is gold and silver for Spain with the bronze medal match yet to be decided.

As we prepare to put the Olympics behind us, we are getting ready to celebrate the TJTC tour’s first anniversary with the Rogers Cup. Things are beginning to get exciting because soon after the Rogers Cup is decided, we will see the return of a few top players including the enigmatic Elliott, the dramatic Plunkett, and none other than the tour dictator himself, Angus. And so the tour continues to grow from success to success.