2017 Duane Hayden Long Island Men’s Preview

November 28, 2017
Long Island, NY

The story of the APTA 2017-2018 men’s season thus far is Juan Arraya. Five tournaments played, five different partners, five titles. In Long Island, Arraya will play with Jeffrey Morneau, his “regular” partner and the other winner of this season’s Steel City Open, one of the two Grand Prix tournaments played and won by Arraya during his unbelievable run.

Even with Arraya’s incredible record this year and the number one ranking he and Morneau hold, they might not be the favorites to win the title in Long Island. That distinction likely goes to the three-time defending APTA National Champions, Drew Broderick and Jared Palmer. Broderick/Palmer won the only tournament they played together this year, the Atlantic Classic, and defeated Arraya/Morneau in the finals of the 2017 APTA National Championships.

There is no doubt that Arraya/Morneau and Broderick/Palmer are a good bet to face each other in the Long Island finals, but there are other teams who have a shot at preventing them from getting there. Sixth-ranked Martin Bostrom and Sebastian Bredberg gave Broderick/Palmer all they could handle in the finals of the Atlantic Classic, finally succumbing 7-6 in the third after holding several match points. John Hughes and Marc Powers, ranked third, reached the finals of this season’s Patterson Open and Steel City Open, extending Arraya/Morneau to three sets in Pittsburgh. Mikk Irdoja and Dan Regan, ranked seventh, won this tournament last year, and are looking to break through to their first final of this season.

Scott Falatek and Vlatko Najdek, Andrea Bonfigli and Javier Ferrin-Kranewitter, and Alex Bancila and Sven Burus are all top-twenty teams who are capable of going far in the Long Island draw. Other teams to look out for include Anton Bobytski and Marco Grangeiro, Scott Estes and Nathan LeFevre, Rob Bakker and Tyler Fraser, and Peter Berka and Graham McNerney.

Whether or not Arraya/Morneau and Broderick/Palmer face off in a blockbuster final, you won’t want to miss any of the great matchups along the way. Live Streaming will bring you all the men’s action on Saturday and Sunday on the APTA Network, Facebook Live, and YouTube.