Lumley and Virgona into US Open doubles final as tight match slips away from Fahey and Howell
Chisholm and Riviere's dominance of the US Open continues after impressive win over Taylor-Matthews and Merola
Robert Fahey and Nick Howell had a set point for a 2-0 lead in their US Open semi final but solid and consistent play from Steve Virgona and John Lumley saw the latter progress to the final, following a great day of doubles action at Westwood on Friday.
The action started with a rematch from last year’s British Open semi final, with the World Champions Camden Riviere and Tim Chisholm playing Ben Taylor-Matthews and Nino Merola. That time, Taylor-Matthews and Merola managed to take a set off the World Champions and threatened to take a second. Riviere and Chisholm were intent of not letting another slip. The match started with the World Champions in a relaxed mood, Riviere dancing up and down the galleries and Chisholm charged with duties at the back of the court. Taylor-Matthews and Merola boasted the ball up and back along the main wall to Chisholm, keeping it well away from Riviere. Eventually, should the rally go long enough, Chisholm would make an error, but the strategy relied on the Americans to not find a winner in the meantime, and also to not make an error themselves. Eventually the strategy seemed to bud and threatened to bear fruit, coming back from 1-4 to 3-4. Riviere and Chisholm slowed their advance by moving Riviere to the back of the court and shutting down the set.
The World Champions were dominant through the second set. The British pair never had a look in, with Riviere now playing back more there were very few ways they could reliably find points. Riviere and Chisholm wrapped it up quickly, moving on to a third as they shifted to an easier gear again. Doing so gave Taylor-Matthews and Merola a sniff again, as they kept edging ahead through the third set. They never established more than two games, though, with Riviere and Chisholm always keeping in touch. The Americans turned it up one more time, determined to not let the ignonomy of the loss of a fourth set to Merola in the space of three years come to pass. In the last two games of the set, three of the four players got tagged, most notably a ball that Taylor-Matthews struck from near the main wall at the net wich bounced up off the net cord, onto the tambour and into Chisholm. He turned so as to hit it into his back though, and continued the game as though nothing had happened. Riviere and Chisholm move through to yet another US Open final, 19 years after their first together.
Robert Fahey and Nick Howell stepped onto the same side of the court for the first time in the tournament — despite it being in the semi final — owing to receiving a walkover from Leon Smart and Josh Dodgson in their quarter final. Their challengers were the number 2 seeds, John Lumley and Steve Virgona. Their challengers Westwood crowd were treated to four players at the height of their powers; mistakes were few and far between and winners came with a premium. Lumley and Virgona built a solid 4-1 through solid, consistent play. Fahey then carried over his forcing game from his semi final to good effect, mounting a comeback in the set. Lumley was serving piques to him to restrict his cut volley and force, attempting to get Howell to play the serve. Fahey was happy to line up to receive in front of the grille, sending Howell to the forehand corner instead. Fahey and Howell were able to get on the offensive early in the rallies, winning five straight games to take the set.
Fahey’s intensity dropped off a little at the start of the second set, making a few more errors on shots he had been making in the first. That was enough to give Lumley and Virgona the edge again, winning the first four games of the set. Howell responded by increasing the power in his shots, putting Lumley and Virgona back on the defensive as they levelled up again at 4-all. The set went to a deciding game. Lumley and Virgona brought up their first set point on a backhand volley error from Howell, Lumley’s main wall force having more angle on it than he was expecting. Howell saved the set point by sneaking a ball into the grille past Virgona after a rally where he just barely managed to keep the ball inside the court. Fahey and Howell brought up a set point of their own as Howell solidly volleyed several Virgona forces back up the main wall until getting one to tickle the tambour. Playing a hazard chase, Fahey looked to have beaten it, his drive at the dedans missing low and running out towards a gallery chase, but Virgona stepped in at the last minute and picked the ball up an inch off the ground, continuing the rally until a Howell volley error. Virgona slid the next ball into the winning gallery, before taking the set with another barrage of forces at Howell.
With the second set now in the rearview mirror, Lumley and Virgona were now firmly in the drivers seat. Fahey and Howell’s forcing was inconsistent, with both Lumley and Virgona able to absorb the pressure until the errant shot came, then push the pressure back onto their opponents. They won the third set without dropping a game. The fourth, and what proved to be final, set was no different, as Lumley and Virgona won through to their second consecutive US Open final.
Saturday will see the conclusion of the US Open singles, with Camden Riviere and John Lumley returning the the scene of their last World Championship Challenge
Match results:
4:00 pm: Camden Riviere & Tim Chisholm (1) def Ben Taylor-Matthews & Nino Merola 6/3 6/1 6/4
6:00 pm: Rob Fahey & Nick Howell (3) lost to Steve Virgona & John Lumley (2) 6/4 5/6 0/6 1/6
Order of play for Saturday (all times EST):
5:00 pm (singles final): Camden Riviere (1) vs John Lumley (2)