John Lumley defeats Camden Riviere in US Open final
Riviere's 12 year streak of Open victories broken among high drama, power cuts and injury concerns
Camden Riviere’s 12 year streak of Open victories has come to an end, following defeat to John Lumley in the US Open final at the Westwood Country Club on Saturday. Riviere battled through injury concerns and power cuts, while Lumley returns from a two set deficit to win his first US Open title with solid and consistent play.
After a brutal series of qualifying matches, the high quality early rounds and a nail-biting semi final, the top two real tennis players in the world found themselves facing off for the US Open final, at the scene their World Championship battle back in 2023. The victor that day, Camden Riviere, had cruised to the final dropping just eleven games over his three matches. His opponent, John Lumley, had stayed in the competition by the skin of his teeth, staring down match points in his semi final against Rob Fahey. The match marked the fifth Open final the two have lined up against each other, all won by Riviere but with Lumley getting progressively closer to challenging the South Carolinian’s hegemony.
It took just five restes before the first extravagant shot of the match, with Riviere playing a ‘tweener on a ball Lumley had driven hard at the nick off the main wall. Lumley was having none of it, sticking to his game plan and not being peterbed by Riviere’s antics. Lumley drew first blood, taking an early couple of games. The pair were very content in engaging in long rallies, working each other from side to side. However, while Lumley kept trying to push the loose ball into the corner one more time, Riviere was efficient at converting his half chances into openings, hitting several dedans and grilles off marginal Lumley inaccuracies. Riviere won three games in a row, before Lumley pulled back the seventh. By the 4-3 game, Riviere let his emotion show, letting out a few loud “come on!” shouts after hitting each winner. Lumley went up 40-0 in the 5-3 game but a gave away a few too many points on errant shot selection. Although Riviere didn’t take the set point on offer in that game, he did in the following one.
Lumley was not peturbed by dropping the first set, and continued working at his game, gathering a small run of momentum at the start of the second set. Riviere seemed a little flat at times, having to gee himself up to get through games. Lumley had built a 3-1 lead in the set, before Riviere reeled off a couple of consecutive dedans. Those shots relaxed him into the set more, giving him just enough to have the edge over Lumley for the next few games. Even then, he was not moving as freely as had in the past, stretching out what appeared to be a small niggle in one of his leg muscles. Though Riviere won the last five games in the set, the resistance from Lumley was still solid, if wavering.
In the third set it was Riviere who had the early lead, but nothing was coming easily for the World Champion, He had to grind through points shot by shot, but couldn’t find an easy finish. Instead, Lumley was on the ascendancy, still freshly bounding into the corners as Riviere looked more ragged than usual. Lumley seized back the momentum late in the set, outlasting Riviere in the rallies. Lumley had a couple of set points in the 5-3 game, with Riviere throwing himself after the ball to keep the set alive. Lumley brought up set points in the 5-4 game as well, one with a winning gallery and another a drop shot that Riviere didn’t even bother try chasing down. Again, Riviere defended both, urging his body to get into position for each stroke. The set went into a deciding game. After losing the first two chases, Lumley threw in three of his best return of serves in the match to bring up another set point. This time he did the business, defending last gallery as Riviere hit the ball high out of court. Lumley fist-pumped while Riviere stood slumped over the winning gallery, his body clearly suffering.
Riviere’s right leg continued to cause him problems in the fourth set. He was limping between points, and haunched over with his hands on his knees after each point loss. Riviere looke to close out points as quickly as possible, often meaning slapping the ball at the dedans in a way more reminiscent of Robert Fahey’s more recent years. Lumley still needed to stay controlled and consistent, as Riviere was still a threat whenever the ball was in his hitting zone. Riviere started taking his frustration out on all manner of external factors, chucking his racket when going to the first gallery when changing ends, berating the crowd for not cheering at the right times and cursing to himself under his breath. He struck a disshevelled figure, his hair a mess, his confidence shattered, while at the other end not a hair had moved from Lumley’s head. Lumley prevailed, winning the fourth set comfortably and sending it into a fifth.
Riviere took an injury time out for his leg going into the start of the fifth set. He returned a little more composed, ripping in a few grilles to boost his confidence. Lumley kept to plan A, still looking to work Riviere over in the corners as he had done all match. He remainded stoic and steady, trying to edge towards a victory.
Then suddenly, at advantage to Riviere at 1-all, the court lights at Westwood went out mid-rally, with a difficult ball floating towards the tambour. A few seconds later, they came back on, with the marker calling a let. Riviere stared down the marker, angry that he felt he had hit a winner in the point. He could do nothing but laugh it off, but on replayed point Lumley hit a ball into his forehand corner to win the chase, Riviere shouting again at himself for the situation. Lumley went on to take the game instead.
Riviere, ever the fighter, would not give in. Despite the lights, his leg, the crowd and the weight of 12 years of expectations he completely emptied the tank trying to stay in the match. Lumley pressed on through the next couple of games unphased, with Riviere dropping to his knees in despair on a couple of points. At 1-3 down, Riviere was thrashing at every ball, trying to stay alive. It was no use, Lumley was able to in control of the match, the situation and his play. Lumley had a couple of championship points at 5-1, which Riviere responded with a winning gallery and a dedans.
On his fourth championship point, Lumley hit a ball that hit the last gallery ledge, threatened to hit the dedans and rolled around Riviere without hitting him, but laying a chase worse than 4. Riviere won the chase, Lumley fractionally too late and being called not up. Riviere then moved to 3-5 down, the crowd now at full voice cheering every point, the marker’s voice breaking up. Riviere won the next game easily, the adrenaline now fully racing and moving more freely. Though he had a 30-15 lead, Lumley lay two better than 2 chases and using them to move to a fifth championship point. On his second serve, his demi pique caught an extra edge, with Riviere turning on it but hitting the ball into the net. After just over three and a half hours, Lumley walked away with his first US Open title.
Lumley becomes just the second person to beat Riviere in the last 11 and a half years, and the first outside a World Championship Final. It registers Riviere’s first defeat in an Open competition since the 2013 Australian Open final against Steve Virgona, and breaks a string of 12 consecutive US Open titles. It was Lumley’s second career win over Riviere, the previous coming in a USCTA National League match in 2013. It puts Lumley one step closer to winning a career Grand Slam — he is yet to win a French Open.
“Driving back in here I had a bit of PTSD from the World Championships that obviously didn’t go my way. It’s been an absolute pleasure to come back here, everyone at Westwood is so friendly and welcoming,” said Lumley, “[To Camden] You kept coming there and you made it stressfull. You’re like a brother to me, it feels weird being this side. I hope for many more battles and look forward to the next one.”
“It’s been a little while since I’ve been this guy [the runner up],” said Riviere. “I wanted to say a thank you to the Westwood faithfull who turned up tonight. Without you guys there definitely is no way I would have finished that match, and definitely no way we were going to get that close in the fifth.”
Both players will return to the court on Sunday for the doubles final.
Match results:
5:00 pm (Singles final): Camden Riviere (1) lost to John Lumley (2) 6/4 6/3 5/6 1/6 4/6
Order of play for Sunday (all times EST):
11:00 am (Doubles final) Camden Riviere & Tim Chisholm (1) vs Steve Virgona & John Lumley (2)