2021 Western New England Grand Prix Recap

January 28, 2021
Longmeadow, MA

2021 Western NE Women's NRT Final Results (doc), (pdf)

2021 Western NE Men's NRT Final Results (doc), (pdf)

It was a windy weekend in western Massachusetts where 16 women’s teams and 16 men’s teams clashed in the Western New England Grand Prix in Longmeadow. The top-seeded team in the women’s and men’s draws made it to the finals—both chock-a-block with highlight reel points—but with different results.

WOMEN

Friday was bright and cold. The round of 16 had only one three-set match, with Alison Morgan and Charlotte Sikora needing the first set to warm-up against Boston’s Vic Cran and Lindsey Herchel before taking two sets straight. The quarterfinals also only had one three-setter, with the ever-tough Maria Manley and Pamela Ruoff eking out a victory over second seeds Annica Cooper and Myrthe Molenveld, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4. In other quarters, Florentina Hanisch and Ana Marija Zubori (1) defeated Amy Shay and Jolene Sutter, 6-3, 6-2; Roxy Enica and Martina Ondrejkova won against Morgan/Sikora, 6-3, 6-2, and Kerri Delmonico and Lauren Gebbia took out Georgina Alexandre and Roopali Hall, 6-1, 6-2.

The semifinal match-up of Hanisch/Zubori vs. Enica/Ondrejkova showed off Zubori’s aggressive play on big points and Hanisch’s well-timed blitzes as well as Enica’s signature rollers and Ondrejkova’s icy screen play, with the top seeds winning 6-2, 7-5. Delmonico/Gebbia controlled the semi against Manley/Ruoff, 6-4, 6-2.

The first set in the finals was all Hanisch/Zubori at 6-0 but at least Delmonico/Gebbia looked like they were having a good time. They made smart adjustments in the second set, bringing the score closer at 6-4. Hanisch/Zubori had flash and bang and made the game entertaining to watch. This is their second Grand Prix win for the season.

WOMEN'S RESULTS

Main Draw: Florentina Hanisch/Ana Marija Zubori def. Kerri Delmonico/Lauren Gebbia, 6-0, 6-4
Quarter Reprieve: Amy Shay/Jolene Sutter def. Annica Cooper/Myrthe Molenveld, 6-2, 6-1
Consolation: Ana Brzova/Macie Elliot def. Victoria Cran/Lindsey Herchel, 6-2, 6-3
Consolation Reprieve: Rita Kladstrup/Candicie Leonard def. Carrie Cochrane/Sherry Ramsay, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5

Women's Winners: Florentina Hanisch and Ana Marija Zubori with gift pack and prize money.

MEN

Whichever teams handled Saturday’s elements best were going to go far. The wind gusts and chill were at times the fifth player on the court. The round of 16 were all two-setters with no unusual results. The quarterfinals were a different story.

Max Le Pivert and Anton Protsenko have been on the rise this year but were unable to take too much away from Johan du Randt and Stephen Mitchell (1) who won 6-4, 6-2. Juan Arraya and Mark Parsons took it to Drew Broderick and Martin Bostrom, 6-1, 6-1, even though B&B have been very strong as a new pairing this season. Sven Burus and Mikk Irdoja held the breaks over Chris Humphreys and Nathan LeFevre, 6-4, 6-4. The upset of the tournament was young Jeremy Court and veteran Marco Grangeiro battling in a three-set victory over local favorite John Hughes and Marc Powers (2), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6. Hughes/Powers barely gave up that many games in their entire draw when they won the Duane Hayden Long Island Grand Prix.

The semifinals were a contrast between an epic three-setter and a matter-of-fact two-set victory. Arraya/Parsons came out hot, winning the first set against du Randt/Mitchell at 6-4. The top seeds made some adjustments, duked it out to 7-6, and then rolled in the third, 6-1. Burus/Irdoja had an easier time against Court/Grangeiro, winning 6-3, 6-1.

Burus/Irdoja hadn’t made it out of the semis yet this season in the Grand Prix Tour, but they were more rested than du Randt/Mitchell in the final and won the first set, 6-2. Unsurprisingly, du Randt/Mitchell re-created themselves and took the second set, 6-2. Burus/Irdoja crafted a third-set takeover, capitalizing on a few du Randt/Mitchell errors, and won their first Grand Prix ever, with the final set at 6-4.

Thank you to Tournament Director Jeff Morneau, the volunteers and staff at the Field Club of Longmeadow and GreatHorse Country Club, and to all the participants for a great event!

MEN'S RESULTS

Main Draw: Sven Burus/Mikk Irdoja def. Johan du Randt/Stephen Mitchell, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
Quarter Reprieve: Max Le Pivert/Anton Protsenko def. Chris Humphreys/Nathan LeFevre, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0
Consolation: Jon Lubow/Jeff Morneau def. Dan Hansen/Adam Mirsky, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0
Consolation Reprieve: Andrew Chan/Miguel Cobbs def. Josep Baro/John Cassas, 6-3, 6-0

Men's Finals: L to R: Winners Sven Burus/Mikk Irdoja Finalists Stephen Mitchell/Johan du Randt