Lumley wins US National Open in five sets over Howell
Howell left to rue missed chances in fourth set
John Lumley has won the US National Open for the fourth time, defeating Nick Howell in the final against a home crowd at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia on Sunday.
Unlike the rest of the tournament, the final was a best-of-5 set match. Philadelphia professional and World Number 2, John Lumley. lined up against Aiken professional and World Number 3, Nick Howell. The match was a rematch of the 2015 final in Tuxedo and the 2024 final in Sand Valley, both of which had been won by Lumley. Lumley had also defeated Steve Virgona in 2023 in Aiken, and was the losing finalist to Camden Riviere on three further occasions. Howell had not played in a final against any other opponent.
In the first set, Lumley didn’t have to work too hard for his points. Howell was repeatedly making unforced errors mid-rally, so Lumley was content to keep putting the ball in play and await Howell’s mistake. When he did have to, Lumley did put in the extra few yards of floor speed to cover anything that Howell thought he had put away. Lumley quickly established a 5/0 lead before letting two games slip as Howell smacked a few balls into the dedans. Nonetheless, the deficit was too great, so Lumley took the set a few moments later.
Lumley was more expansive in his shots going in the second set, becoming more willing to go for his targets or try and hit winners. He also had plenty of success boasting the ball thick, bringing the ball across Howell’s backhand. But Howell kept finding the dedans at will, which was enough to keep him within touching distance through the set. More errors crept into Lumley’s game, allowing Howell to draw even at 4-all. A close deuce game followed, with Howell’s cut-volley coming to the fore to draw ahead. Lumley’s forcing in the following game sent the set into a deciding game.
Lumley opened the deciding game with a bizarre back wall boast: having run up to the net to chase down an overhit force, he failed to put the ball away with Howell hitting a passing shot. Lumley sped back to the back of the court, catching up to the ball and forcing it from around the last gallery line into the wall above the dedans and back over the net for a hazard chase. Howell watched on and raised his arms in astonishment. Still, Howell was the first to see set point, which Lumley beat by winning a 3 and 4 chase. A pair of tight high serves from Howell followed, with Lumley striking the net twice more to give up the set to Howell.
Howell carried the advantage into the third set, with his high serve from one end and forcing from the other still proving a puzzle that Lumley was yet to solve. Howell won the first four games of the set unchallenged, even though the games themselves were close. The crowd roared into life after Lumley struck a dedans to win his first game of the set. It provided him with the tailwind he needed to bring the scoreline back to 4-all. After a couple of games exchanged, and the set was once again into a deciding game. Lumley earned three set points but Howell saved all of them, sending the game to deuce. This time it was Howell who was scrambling back from a shot at the net, but instead opting for a wristy boast to set up his first set point. He won the next point and the set with a winner into Lumley’s forehand corner, pointing his finger in the air in celebration.
The fourth set was the closest the pair had been so far, with neither player holding an advantage. Holding the service end was key, with the players using it to exchange games through the first half of the set. The sixth game was a tough battle, with both players having their chances but with Lumley eventually pulling ahead. Nothing could separate them, with the rallies getting longer and longer. At deuce in the eighth game, with a better than 2 chase in the bank, Lumley hit a main wall dedans past Howell, who was so annoyed that he slammed his racket into the ground and bounced it well over his head. From then on, Howell cracked. Lumley broke out the decisive lead in the set, sending the final into a fifth set for the first time in 11 years in the tournament.
Lumley was on top of the game through the final set, while Howell’s shoulders slumped and his shots lacked purpose. Lumley played with intent and purpose while Howell’s fight had left him. The play proceeded much like the first set, with Lumley winning the first five games and Howell bringing back the next two with his forcing. Lumley won the final game to great cheers from the Philadelphian crowd.
The trophy presentation was dedicated to the late Mike Gooding, for whom the tournament has now been named.
Match results:
12:30 PM: Nick Howell lost to John Lumley 2/6 6/5 6/5 3/6 2/6