The New Millennium Wins!
World Champion from 1994
Would there be a change in the order was the question prior to the 2010 Challenge in Melbourne?
Fahey was going into the Challenge with 'niggling' aches and pains; he had that volcanic disruption to contend with, he was defending his title on home territory against a fellow Australian, would any self-doubt's prevail?
On Tuesday 4th May, the first 4 sets were played and in the 1st set, the Challenger, Steve Virgona, laid down the gauntlet, Virgona was the one who settled the quickest, and with a game plan from Virgona which Fahey had not encountered before, Virgona went into a very quick 3/0 lead in the 1st set.  Virgona was serving immaculate Caterpillar serves; these stopped Fahey attacking the return of serve, if he was able to return them, that was all he could do, and Virgona very quickly hit a wining opening.  Fahey though, has that extraordinary ability to find his way out of a 'hole' and he pegged Virgona back to 3/3.  The accuracy of Virgona's Caterpillar started to waiver and Virgona was beginning to miss the targets, the balls were going up on the penthouse, allowing Fahey the time and choice of shot he was going to make.  Fahey methodically, laid and defended chases, won the points and took the first set 6/4.
The Royal Melbourne Club was packed.  There were 200+ spectators.  Support for both of the players was pretty equal.  By the end of the second set though, the Fahey supporters were getting quite vocal;  Fahey had just defeated Virgona by 6/1.  The question now being asked was "What was Virgona going to do"?
Virgona came out for the third set with a new spring to his step, he chased everything down, he started to ask questions of Fahey's mobility and stamina; Virgona just became 'electric'.  Virgona forced Fahey into so many errors, and every time Fahey raised his standard of play, Virgona answered and Virgona won the third set 6/2.
The crowd went 'wild' "Match On"
The start of the fourth set saw the temperature rise on court and off court, the spectators were now hanging on every point and with loud applause at the end of each point.  The players were going game for game.  At 2 games all, Virgona lifted his game again and secured the fifth and sixth game and was now leading 4/2.  Virgona was really 'pumped' and he still could not do anything wrong.  Fahey at this stage definitely went up a couple of levels, but Virgona was still looking comfortable.  Matches change on the 'smallest thing' and the turning point came when Virgona was at the hazard end and he moved fluidly into a shot, looking to lay a chase down by the main wall.  It looked as if he had hit the ball to perfection, but it clipped the net and never went over.  Fahey won the game and the score was now drawing closer.  The 9th game was pivotal.  Fahey won it to love and the score was now level at 4/4.  The tension in the next game was palpable - the final point saw Virgona defending a 2nd gallery chase.  Virgona had Fahey on his back foot, but Virgona just couldn't finish the point and was missing the hazard galleries, grille, winning gallery and tambour;  Fahey was just getting the ball back; surely Virgona would finish the point off?  Virgona moved into a forehand off the floor and the ball flew off Virgona's racket, over the net, clipping the tambour low down, the ball crossed the floor and Fahey somehow got his racket on the ball, certainly not on the 'sweet spot' and the ball left his racket curling as it went and into the last gallery.  The reaction from Fahey was as if he had won the whole match;  the score was now 5/4 Fahey.  Fahey in the 10th game went to 40/30.  You could have heard a pin drop.  Fahey went to the dedans, choose the balls carefully, and went to serve a railroad.  It was all that was needed;  Virgona got his racket to it, but was unable to get the return over the net.  Set to Fahey 6/4.
On the Wednesday evening the Gala Dinner was held.  Edward Kemp (commonly known as Ed or Reggie, but his mother was there and she made it quite clear that her son's name is Edward) interviewed both plays.  In Rob's interview he said that he thought the standard of tennis on the Tuesday had been good, but the standard on Thursday would be very special.  Special it turned out to be and Andrew Lyons, the marker, will tell you that it was the best tennis he has ever witnessed.

Fahey was right in his comment at the Gala Dinner that the standard of Thursday's play was going to be "pretty special" - it was!
In the first set of the day, Virgona got off to a good start and was soon leading 3/1.  The difference from Tuesday's first set was Fahey did not look worried by Virgona's tactics.  Virgona was again using the Caterpillar serve, but it was not working as well and Virgona's second serve, normally a Bobble, often opened up too many opportunities for Fahey on the return.  The 3/1 lead was pegged back and Fahey went on to secure the set 6/4.
The next set was probably pivotal to the whole challenge.  It was a set of tennis which had everything in it, speed, strength, finesse, guile and skill.  After 45 minutes of play the score stood at 5/5. The 11th game went like this:
Virgona serving - love all, 2 hazard chases
Fahey serving, wins both chases 30/0
Fahey creates a hazard chase
Virgona wins next point 15/30
Virgona draws level 30/30
Virgona secures 2nd gallery chase
Virgona serving - hits grille, leading 40/30, set point
Dedans force from Fahey, deuce
Fahey lays chase 4&5
Dedans force from Fahey, Advantage and set point Fahey
Fahey serving, but Virgona controlling the point but unable to beat the chase.  He has Fahey scurrying like a spring chicken from one side of the court to the other.  A cut ball from Virgona to Fahey's backhand, would Fahey get to it?  He does; the ball fizzes back over the net, it nicks the tambour and Virgona dives to it with no avail and the set was Fahey's 6/5.  The overall set score now standing at 5/1.
Fahey's intensity dropped at the beginning of the 3rd set, but neither player had a distinct advantage as the score stood at 2/2.  Virgona won the next game and Fahey, by his standards was making too many errors, but Virgona's play was forcing this from the Champion.  Virgona now stood 5/2.  A howler of a mistake from Fahey in the next game gave Virgona Advantage and Virgona was not going to have this opportunity taken from him.  Game and set Virgona with a flourish as Virgona hits the dedans. Fahey now leading overall 5 sets to 2.
The spectators went crazy and the atmosphere was just electric.
In the final set of the day, Fahey came out with guns blazing.  Virgona was playing great tennis, but Fahey was playing better.  There was nothing Virgona could do and Fahey within 20 minutes had a 4/1 lead.  Fahey was now looking 'oh so dangerous' and with a shot to the grille Fahey was leading 5/1.
The final game of the set went very quickly, with Fahey winning it to love.
Fahey would now go into the final day of play with just one more set to win and with Virgona facing the daunting task of winning all five.
The third day of play saw Fahey playing his most clinical and brilliant tennis and he very quickly secured a 3/0 lead.  Virgona at this point looked defeated.  Virgona did take a game but there was nothing more he could achieve and Fahey easily took the set 6/1 retaining the title for a record 9th time.
Whether Fahey decides to retire undefeated, we all just have to wait and see.  For those of you who have not yet seen Fahey play, I would urge you to make the effort to watch this extraordinary champion in action.  One should never say never, but I don't believe we will see such a complete player again, certainly within my life time.
The match was marked by Andrew Lyons from Queen's Club, in his normal brilliant fashion.  The referee was Jonathan Howell (lucky chap at least he got a prime seat!).