Virgona v Sayers Match Coverage

Ben Matthews reporting

Match starts at 17:30 EST Wednesday 17th February

Both players have just one hour of practice left on match day at the Racket Club of Philadelphia. By the end of today we will know if Steve Virgona is the first player through to the Final Eliminator at Tuxedo Park, or whether Bryn Sayers has forced a deciding tie, to be played on Friday. 

5:34 The players are knocking up and the fans are flocking in.The atmosphere is building and the players ready.

5:40 Robbie Whitehouse introduces the players and we are underway.

5:45 Steve is definately up for this takes the first two games very quickly and looks visibly pleased at doing so. 2-0 Virgona

5:52 Bryn makes Steve work harder in this game, forcing him into a few mistakes. After a deuce game, Bryn gets himself on the board. 2-1 Virgona

5:57 Tight 4th game, 30-all and 2 hazard second gallery chases. Steve charges up to the galleries and slams a volley into the nick, followed by an unreturnable serve to take the game. He takes the next game to love to go 4-1. No wait, another game to love to go 5-1…this is all Virgona and Bryn can’t get himself in at the moment.

6-02 Game to love for Bryn to make it 2-5 but the next game is all Virgona again. He goes 40 love up quickly and flashes in a main wall dedans on his second set point to take the set 6-1. First set to Virgona in emphatic style!

 

6-08 The foot is still firmly on the gas as we are already at 2-0 in the second set. The points are flying by, and we’re not being treated to many rallies. The court is playing very bouncy and Steve is driving the ball around, being the aggressor but Bryn is keeping it tight and forcing some errors.

6-15 A few errors creeping into Steve’s game and Bryn takes a much needed game to go 1-2. Couple of game points to Bryn in this next game but Steve saves them, before taking it with a fierce straight force. That really was travelling!! 3-1 Steve

6-21 The first set was one-way traffic but Bryn is making Steve work harder for his games. Unfortunately for Bryn, Steve is working harder and still winning the points and it’s now 4-1, 30-Love Virgona

6-25 Virgona hits 3 grilles to go 40-Love, breaking a string on the third. Maybe his racket was gold plated and now that it’s broken, Bryn can get stuck in?

6-30 3 set points saved, maybe the racket was gold plated??

6-31 Steve steps it up again, to take the deuce game and win the 2nd set. 6-1 Virgona again but a closer set for sure.

 

6-35 Good, quick first game for Sayers to love but Steve replies with the second to tie it up at 1-1 Return of serve errors seem to be the problem for Bryn and have been throughout the match. 2-1 Virgona now.

6-40 I wonder if anybody is taking a grille count for Steve. He must be up at 15 now. Another one to make it 30-all before 2 return or serve errors from Bryn make it 3-1 Steve.

6-45 Advantage Sayers now and he really needs this one. He takes it to go 2-3

6-50 After a deuce game, Sayers looks like he’s going to level the set but again Steve comes up with the goods and comes back to win the game to go 4-2 up. Definately advantage Steve!

6-52 Very quick game with Steve at the service end, 40-15 up but a mainwall dedans from Bryn keeps him alive. You really have to think it’s game over for Bryn if Steve wins this game.

6-53 Deuce

6-55 Advantage Bryn and a hazard chase to attack. Beats it to come back to 3-4.

6-57 Steve is starting to make some errors now and Bryn is keeping it nice and tight. Poised at 30-40 to Bryn…...Deuce

7-00 Advantage Bryn, trotting down to the hazard end to try and beat more than a yard wose than last gallery. Return of serve error to go back to Deuce.

7-01 2 long chases for Bryn to defend…first one successfully, and second one not so successfully…back to deuce.

7-02 Another chase at Deuce and an ace from Bryn to set up a game point.

7-03 Game Sayers…4-4, game on!

7-08 40-15 Sayers but Steve wins 5 in a row to take the game. 5-4 Virgona.

7-10 Steve does it! 6-4 in the third set and makes it through to the Final Eliminator at Tuxedo Park. Congratulations to Steve for an awesome. Performance and Bryn I’m sure we will see in this situation again soon. Final score 6-1 6-1 6-4 Virgona. - hope you all enjoyed the commentary.