Honours even after topsy-turvy World Doubles Championship Final first day
Virgona and Lumley bookend proceedings with bagels against defending champions Riviere and Chisholm
The World Doubles Championship final stands evenly poised at two sets apiece, with challengers John Lumley and Steve Virgona winning the first and last sets by bagelling the defending champions, Tim Chisholm and Camden Riviere, in a bizarre and tactical day of play at Moreton Morrell.
John Lumley and Steve Virgona won the toss, opting to receive and put Virgona on Tim Chisholm’s serve. An extended knock-up followed, with Chisholm framing a ball into his face, leaving him dazed as he tried to recover his composure. Chisholm wasn’t his usual self when the match eventually started, dropping back and exposing the galleries and struggling to pick up the speed of Virgona’s faster shots. The new set of balls used for the final didn’t help Chisholm either, with Virgona generating plenty of spin in both directions on the serve and acing Chisholm on multiple occasions. Riviere had to overcompensate, spraying balls high onto the penthouse, and giving Lumley and Virgona easy opportunities to hit winners, especially at the feet of Chisholm. Chisholm and Riviere won just four points in the first set — never reaching a game score of 30. By the time they were 0/5 down, Riviere patted four balls in the net to concede the set and pick receivers for the second, despite Lumley’s attempt to force a hazard chase by hitting a short caterpillar. The whole set was completed in just 13 minutes — the perfect start for the challengers who wore ear-to-ear grins on their faces.
Chisholm faced up against Lumley for the second set. The change worked, with Chisholm’s high serve generating a weak response from Lumley. Chisholm was seeing the ball better too, engaging and beating Virgona in several volley battles. With the balance restored, Riviere eased into the play as well, playing with more control and precision. They took command of the match, holding a slight advantage over their opponents and holding an effective conversion rate on game points. Virgona and Lumley took too long to adapt to the reinvigorated play of their opponents, falling a little flat themselves as they tried to figure out the next solution to the puzzle presented to them. Facing down chase 3 at set point, Virgona also opted to pat the ball away and concede the set.
Lumley took on Riviere’s serve for the third set — the same configuration as the first — as they looked to recreate some of the magic that they had had in the first set. But the defending champions had other ideas. By now, they were both seeing the ball well, keeping the rallies short and finding winners easily. They were ahead in the set early, with Riviere dancing around the second gallery line and picking off double-handed volleys with ease. They built a three-game lead, but Virgona and Lumley were starting to find the right balance of play themselves, getting closer and closer to breaking through as the set wore on even with Chisholm and Riviere picking off targets out of nowhere. Playing chase the line on set point, Virgona played a drop shot, with Riviere charging the net and scooping the ball into the grille, screaming a loud “c’mon” over the net after he hit the shot.
A short break followed, with Lumley continuing to take Riviere’s serve on the resumption. Virgona and Lumley’s defenses were solid, extending out the rallies until they could gain a tactical advantage. Once they did, they were clinical in executing their finishes, often beating Riviere and Chisholm on the floor or into one of the open galleries. The third game of the set was pivotal, with Riviere and Chisholm missing several chances to grab a foothold in the set. Virgona took the game instead, playing a forehand volley into the winning gallery. While trying to force their way through Virgona and Lumley, Riviere and Chisholm once again started to spray balls onto the penthouses. Lumley barely let a ball past him, playing the anchor role well as Virgona went on the attack. Again, Lumley and Virgona were 5/0 up in the set but stuck at the service end, with Chisholm ignoring Virgona’s serves to try and secure the choice of receivers for the start of the next day. The last ball of the day saw the peculiar sight of Riviere standing at hazard 2 in order to fend off any ball hit deep into the hazards — despite him not being the designated receiver.
The match will conclude on Sunday with both sides needing to find an additional three sets in what has effectively become a best-of-5 set contest. The 2-all scoreline after the first day is a repeat of the previous edition in Chicago, which was fought between the same two pairs. On that occasion, Chisholm and Riviere came out stronger on the second day, winning three unanswered sets.
Match results:
Robert Fahey & Nick Howell (3) lost to John Lumley & Steve Virgona (2) 1-5
Day 1: 4/6 3/6 3/6 0/6
Day 2: 6/3 5/6
Camden Riviere & Tim Chisholm (1) def Ben Taylor-Matthews & Bryn Sayers (4) 5-1
Day 1: 6/2 6/2 5/6 6/3
Day 2: 6/5 6/1
Camden Riviere & Tim Chisholm (1) level with John Lumley & Steve Virgona (2) 2-2
Day 1: 0/6 6/2 6/2 0/6