Detroit Invitational Men’s Grand Prix Recap

February 8, 2021
Orchard Lake, MI

2021 Detroit Invitational Men's NRT Final Results (doc), (pdf)

When we predicted unpredictable matches at the Detroit Invitational Grand Prix, we were impressively right—a team that had never played together would get to the finals, two brothers would play the longest point recorded in this decade against each other, weather in the 20s wouldn’t deter some players from wearing shorts.

Orchard Lake Country Club in Michigan hosted 32 teams fighting for a very large trophy and some prize money; the top seeds were primed for action. First seeds Tyler Fraser and Adam Morgan, playing together in their second Grand Prix of the season, moved comfortably through the bottom half of the draw into the semifinals.

Second seeds Nathan Crick and Randy Lofgren were not so lucky. They had a two-hour, forty minute three-set match in the mid-afternoon quarterfinals against Tournament Director Ryan Baxter and Ricky Heath. After many grinding points, Crick/Lofgren won, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, and headed to the semis.

Filip Rams and Mike Wagner (3) were a surprisingly deft new pair, giving up only two games until they reached the semifinals. Fresh and fit, the young team ran into Fraser/Morgan. The first set was entertaining with cuts and spins, but Rams’ fun shots weren’t always clearing the tape while Fraser’s were. Fraser/Morgan went to the finals, 7-5, 6-1.

Crick/Lofgren recouped during a short layover, then faced Edwin Lewis and Wil Lofgren. Lewis/Lofgren were new as teammates, each individually ranked in the top 50. This was the first time they were featured on Live Streaming, and they will be remembered. They ran into seasoned veterans Mike Cochrane/Scott Estes, and Ludo Aaron/Tom Murphy, on their way to the semifinals, but they were much more rested than Crick/Lofgren. The three-set battle featured one of the longest points in the history of the Grand Prix. In the third set at 4-4, 15-0, one point went on for 12 minutes and 510 balls. It ended on an unreturnable nick shot by Randy Lofgren, Wil’s brother. Lewis/Lofgren, the fresher team, won the match, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Sunday dawned sunny and cold. The final was another three-set unpredictable match. Fraser/Morgan came out hot, winning 6-1, but Lewis/Lofgren adjusted and preyed on Fraser’s desire to end points too early, winning the second set, 6-3. One break made the difference, and Fraser/Morgan prevailed at 6-4 for the title.

Thank you to the Tournament Directors Ryan Baxter, Lincoln Wirgau, and Frank Willard, host Orchard Lake Country Club, Birmingham Athletic Club, Birmingham Country Club, and Oakland Hills Country Club, the volunteers, and all the participants for making Detroit memorable.

RESULTS

Main Draw: Tyler Fraser/Adam Morgan def. Edwin Lewis/Wil Lofgren, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
Quarter Reprieve: Ryan Baxter/Ricky Heath def. Dan Hersh/Mike McGrath, 6-4, 6-4
Reprieve: Trevor Heck/Andrew Ong def. Cullen Malloy/Paul Oosterbaan, 6-3, 5-7, 1-0
Consolation: Blake Burstein/Richard Marsh def. Anthony Lis/Ryan Mullaney, 6-2, 6-1
Consolation Reprieve: Kurt Streng/Jon Uffelman def. Chris Fullerton/Austin Marks, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2

Finalists- Edwin Lewis and Wil Lofgren, Winners- Adam Morgan and Tyler Fraser