We have the first player into the final eliminator!
Steve Virgona wins the third leg 5/6 6/4 6/1 6/3
The host club for the last two matches, Racquet Club of Chicago, might have drunk their bar dry last night. Their man Steve Virgona was through to the final eliminator which is to be hosted by them on March 18th, 20th and 22nd over the challenge format. After Bryn Sayers had levelled their tie on Tuesday night, there must have been some anxiety about the outcome of the match last night and when Bryn Sayers won the first set that anxiety was shown by the quietness around the court. The level of noise slowly increased though as Virgona won the second set 6/4, having been 0/3 down. Spectators flocked to the bar as the ‘game was on’.
The third set was all Virgona. The tennis being played was riveting and simply amazing to watch, but racket errors from balls which many players would not even have got to were coming thick and fast from Sayers. Virgona went to a 5/0 lead at which point Sayers won a game but the set was lost with Virgona winning 6/1.
The fourth set started differently though with Sayers going into a 2/0 lead. Virgona’s game was still good and at a level which was most certainly putting Sayers under pressure. Virgona kept completely focused though and the deficit was quickly pegged back and Sayers only won one more game. Virgona needed one match point, he took it and is now deservedly in the final eliminator.
The match was marked by Robbie Whitehouse and John Cashman was the referee, they make quite a pair together, for the British who are more likely to know this duo, they could be another Ant and Dec.
The event was web streamed by Freddy Adam and she did the most fantastic job.