First Match

Phil played his first singles match this morning and won. It sounded pretty routine....6-0, 6-3. I know it's nice to get the first match under your belt, and feel like you're finally in the tournament. He now plays a friend and good player, Alex Deeb, who is from the Tampa area, and has a condo at Sandestin. He and his wife, Nancy, spend quite a bit of time here in the late summer and again in the spring. Phil and Alex have worked out together but have not played each other in a tournament. Alex uses a very unusual racquet that has double handles on it. He hits a very heavy, topspin, loopy ball, which on clay courts is very effective. It will be an interesting match up for Phil, who is learning to love the clay now that he is an official Floridian. Phil's overall game is better suited for the faster hard court and indoor surfaces, but he can adapt that style of play to any surface. I think Phil will figure out a way to handle Alex's game. Phil and Larry are seeded first in doubles and have a bye. Their first match will be on Thursday.