Surano/Naniche win best Rittenhouse doubles yet

 Surano/Naniche win best Rittenhouse Doubles yet

from SQUASH NEWS January 1990

by Jennifer Gibson Lewis

Despite the 6.9 earthquake that shook the Bay Area, (October 17, 1989), the annual Rittenhouse Squash Doubles Tournament was a resounding success. The matches were held at the University Club of San Francisco with more teams than in years past and fiercely competitive play, illustrated by the fact that only two of the top seeded teams went on to victory in five divisions. Exciting upsets were more the norm in this tournament than the exception.

The Men's A flight was particularly competitive because there was little difference in ability between the top three seeded teams. In fact, these pairs were considered on par with the top eight seeds nationally.

The A semifinals were a juxtaposition of quick but costly victory and heartbreak. No. 1 seeds John Lau and Ed Dold swept to a predictable 3-0 win over No. 4 seeds Paul Gessling and Jim Marver at a price. Dold wrenched his knee in the final game, necessitating a five minute break. He returned to the court in pain, but determined to complete the match. It was soon over, with Dold sidelined for the duration of the tournament.

A controversial battle followed between the No. 2 seeds, Kris Surano and Andre Naniche, and the No. 3 seeds, Rick Smith and Fred Brussel. In overtime, the final point of the fifth and last game, Smith/Brussel were defeated 11-15, 15-11, 13-15, 15-4,15-14, following a call by the referee of a Let Point. Brussel was hit by Surano's ball as it traveled towards the front wall, thereby ending the match, undera rule recently inaugurated by the USSRA. Fortunately, it was the only call of its kind during the entire tournament.

Surano/Naniche became the A flight victors as Dold was forced to default due to the injury he suffered earlier. Lau teamed with Gessling to play an exhi-bition-only match. Lau/Gessling beat Surano/Naniche in five hard fought games that had the spectators on their feet cheering the masterful play.

The B final was a bitter clash between the No. 1 seeds, Ed Lanphier and Jim Kempenich, and the No. 2 seeds, Murray Smith and Brett Elebash. Smith/Elebash won the five game contest which featured two lopsided games 15-12, 12-15, 15-1, 6-15, 15-10.

The flight with the most teams entered was the Veterans 40+. While most visitors to San Francisco left town or cancelled travel plans, convinced by the media that the city lay in ruin, the team of Alan Fox and David Body journeyed up from Los Angeles. They were defeated in the semifinals by the No. 1 seeds, David Tepper and Michael Jensen-Akula, who went on to Vets victory. Fox and Body had won each of their previous matches in five games; lack of stamina may have been a factor in their downfall.

The runners-up, John Campodonico and Robert Miller, worked hard all the way, winning three close matches before losing to Tepper/Jensen-Akula, 3-0. One of Campodonico/Miller thrillers was a surprising victory over the No. 2 seeds, Jim Gibbons and Jonathan Hunt, who succumbed in the semifinals 7-15, 15-14, 15-17, 18-14, 15-11. This is one teamto be wary of: Tepper just reached40 and used his driver's license to convince the doubters.

Victory was sweet for the Seniors 50+ team of Hank Bruce and Simon Blattner. The final was a showdown between Uren and Jim Prigoff, (Uren substituting for Prigoff's usual partner, Ed Helfield) seeded No. 1 and the No. 2 seeds. Uren/Prigoff were leading 2-0 in games when "the Rabbit" Bruce and "Air" Blattner rallied. The outcome was a sweet victory won 12-15, 12-15, 15-11, 15-4, 15-12. Blattner is the president of Rittenhouse, sponsor of the tournament. In his third year of this competition, this first Rittenhouse victory left Blattner an ebullient winner. 

The Mixed Doubles flight drew the smallest number of contenders with the matches providing a few surprises. While the last game of the final was particularly close, No. 1 seeds Surano/Elebash beat No. 2 seeds Lau and Evy Kavaler as expected,15-8, 15-11, 17-14. The closest match for Surano/Elebash came in the semifinal round as they topped Brussel/Mindy Steiner 15-12, 13-15, 16-14, 15-10. Surano/Elebash should be congratulated on their double victories, Surano also winning the A flight and Elebash the B. The winners will receive a set of engraved marble bookends and the finalists an engraved silver "Brag" book, perfect for those near-winning shots caught by the camera. Let's hope that Surano and Elebash have an extensive library.

As the first matches in this event were played, San Francisco was hit with yet another large aftershock which rocked the club. Spectators in the gallery bolted for the door in panic, while the players continued their game! It was reported they didn't feel a thing.

The tournament was highlighted by a cocktail party Saturday night at the University Club. The fourth floor location provided a spectacular city view as the sun set and when the pianist retired for the evening, player Rick Smith provided some entertainment. While he didn't prevail on the squash court, he did play his guitar and sang some country-folk tunes, much to everyone's enjoyment. 

As the tournament ended and the players departed (with new headband, wristbands, and socks emblazoned with the Rittenhouse corporate logo), Blattner said, "Let's do it again next year!" 

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