Waterloo Men Warriors had their best results of the regular season this past weekend, which was also the last of the regular season play. They came away with two victories against York and Guelph at the Waterloo Tennis club on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Waterloo 5, York 2

The match against the York Lions was the last of the official OUA matches and the result critical to where the Warriors would place at the end of the season's play.  Where they place is important as it determines which school  they play in the first round of the OUA championship scheduled for next weekend Oct. 5-7 at the Mayfair Club East in Markham.
 
The Warriors took to the courts on Friday to face York, a team that was currently ahead of them in the standings. Starting with doubles play, the no.3 doubles team of Saifullah Shoaib (Karachi, Pakistan/) and Peter Hull (Toronto/)  won -8-5 and the no. 1 doubles team of John Chan (Whistler/) and DJ Fenerty overwhelmed their opponents winning 8-2 giving the Warriors the doubles point. The no.2 pair of Eitan Rozin (Toronto/) and Josh Worme lost another close match in a tie-break.

With the doubles point in the bag, the Warriors went on to win four of the six singles, all close and hard fought matches.  Two of the matches went to three sets with York winning both. It was a good day's work by the Warriors. The win has placed Waterloo in fourth place at the end of this season's regular play.

Doubles:
John Chan (Whistler/) and DJ Fenerty  bt Tegkaran Brar and Dylan Shan 8-2
Eitan Rozin (Toronto/) and Josh Worme lost to Nikola Janev and Georg Zoidl 7-8 (5)
Saifullah Shoaib (Karachi, Pakistan/) and Peter Hull (Toronto/) bt Sahil Sareen and Karan Negi 8-5

Singles: 
Chan bt Brar 7-6, 6-4
Fenerty bt Janev 6-4, 6-3
Rozin bt Shan 6-1, 6-0
Worme lost to Sareen  6-1, 5-7, 4-6
Hull bt Zoidl 6-4, 6-2
Shoaib lost to Negi 6-2, 2-6, 5-7

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Waterloo 4, Guelph 3
Buoyed by their win over York the previous day, the Warriors were eager to play the Guelph Gryphons, not an official OUA tennis team, on Saturday.  Regardless of their status, Guelph has had several accomplished players over the years and the men's team this year was no exception.

First up as usual was the doubles portion. With John Chan (Whistler/) not playing,  DJ Fenerty  teamed with Eitan Rozin (Toronto/) at no. 1.  Rozin's usual partner, Josh Worme was also unavailable for doubles.  The new partnership proved their capability by downing Guelph's Martin Hong and Petr Divilek 8-5.  First off the doubles court though was Waterloo's fourth line playing at no. 3. They won efficiently 8-1.  The no.2 pair of Saifullah Shoaib (Karachi, Pakistan/) and Peter Hull (Toronto/) weren't quite up to taking their match from Evan Weiser and Leo Jourard  losing  7-8 (4). For the second time in as many days, Waterloo started with the doubles point in hand.

The top four of the Gryphons were capable and experienced players. Guelph's no. 1 Martin Hong, a player with excellent strokes and experience came up against Waterloo's rookie, Eitan Rozin (Toronto/) playing  no. 1 on Saturday.  Play was close throughout but it was the more experienced Hong who came through in the end. By this time, Waterloo had also lost at no. 5 but won at no. 6, making the score at that point 2-2.  Two matches were on court and one yet to start with both teams needing two victories from the remaining three matches.  Anxious moments when No.3 Worme was down 1-5 in the third set, a match Waterloo needed and was counting on to win. He did not disappoint, fighting for every point and miraculously or so it seemed, climbed his way back to win six consecutive games to win the third set 7-5.  More importantly his come -from -behind effort gave Waterloo a 3-2 lead.

While the drama on Worme's court was unfolding, no. 2 Peter Hull (Toronto/) quietly started his match on the adjoining court.  Little did the audience know they were in for another nail biting match. Hull lost the first set 3-6 and was down 1-4 in the second set when Worme closed out his match.  At that point it seemed that no. 5 Shoaib, the last match still to be played, would be the deciding one against an opponent who belts the cover of the balls with every swing of his racquet. Hull, though, had different thoughts.  At 1-4 down, he settled in and began to play aggressive but secure tennis from the baseline. He mixed things up by going to the net and winning critical points there. He kept up his level of consistent yet aggressive play which wore down his opponent. Like Worme's minutes before, Hull's second set had its moments of comeback drama which he won 6-4. With no signs of the level of his game dropping in the third set which had many long rallies,  Waterloo's second comeback kid of the day  won it  6-2. The win gave Waterloo the unassailable 4-2 lead.  Shoaib was unable to contain the power of the hard hitting Evan Weiser at the beginning but his tenacity was rewarded by winning the second set before losing the third set tie break at 5.

Playing Guelph was invaluable because it provided the Warriors another extra round of matches to hone their games and as it turned out, to show also their mettle when the chips were down.  
The Warriors will be in action next weekend Oct 5-7 at the season- ending OUA Championships at the Mayfair Club (east) in Markham. Play starts at 9:30 a.m.
 
Doubles:
Eitan Rozin (Toronto/) and DJ Fenerty bt Martin Hong and Petr Divilek 8-5
Saifullah Shoaib (Karachi, Pakistan/) and Peter Hull (Toronto/) lost to Evan Weiser and Leo Jourard 7-8 (4)
Alexander Tingling (Oakville/) and Lazar Vukoje (Guelph/) bt Bryn Hafer and Ratul Saker 8-1

Singles:
Rozin lost to Hong  6-3, 4-6, 5-7
Hull bt Jourard 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Worme bt Petr Divilek 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
Saifullah Shoaib (Karachi, Pakistan/) lost to Evan Weiser 4-6, 6-3, 12-5
Lazar Vukoje (Guelph/) lost to Bryn Hafer 3-6, 4-6
Marko Martinovic (Kitchener/) bt Ratul Saker 6-4, 6-3