UPSET!!! Burr Blasts Broadway - 2-6,6-0,6-0!!!

Outstanding photos by Kyle Schewe!

By Kevin Broadway, TTN - In what was appearing to be a quick dispatching of RB in third round action after one set, turned into a thorough blasting of BW at the hands of RB, 2-6, 6-0, 6-0. The weather was glorious for tennis with slight winds, sunshine, and temps in the low 80s. Broadway's 1st Set started just as glorious, but the sun that seemingly shined down upon him in the first set, turned black as coal and in came the RB thunder. BW stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the first by executing well placed shots that RB struggled to reach. RB's main weapon, the cut shot, was there but BW seemed to put it right back over without much difficulty, and handily topped RB 6-2 to take the first.

The second set started out with a service break by RB on BW, then RB holds serve to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead without much difficulty. RB then broke BW again to go up 3-0. RBs cut shot now seemingly coming alive, at times causing BW to completely whiff if not put it straight into the net. BW attempts to alter strategy now down 0-4 by rushing the net and smashing RB's returns in an attempt to eliminate the dreaded cut shot. The strategy works, but only when BW doesn't send it sailing out the backcourt (which happened more often than not.) After a multi deuce contest, it's once again RB coming out ahead now 5-0 and serving for the set. BW backs off the net in attempt to rally with RB, but struggles to get his forehand down, continually going out the back court, RB takes set 2 with ease 6-0.

BW begins the 3rd still confident, yet fearing a repeat of what happened to him in 4th round play of 2010. It was then that BW held a 1 set lead over CG, and led 3-1 in the second, only to see CG score 11 unanswered points to take the match.  BW continues to attack the net with some success but at this point in the 3rd set, he's beginning to tire from the energy needed to succeed with such an attack. BW would often go up 30-love or 40-15 only to have RB come storming back with well timed lob shots and precision cut shots that continued to plague BW.  RB fights to a 2-0 lead in the 3rd before another multi duece game, but once again it's RB who has his way with BW, 3-0 now. BW senses his window of opportunity is closing, because try as he may to rush the net or just rally, RB continues to take point after point , now nine unanswered games in RB's favor. With the frustrations showing, and racquet taking some abuse, the plague that had besieged BW would not relent as RB takes 12 straight games, and with them the match.

With the win, RB is now guaranteed to be playing in a "win and your in" match for the playoffs. Whether that be in the 4th round or East region quarterfinals is unknown. BW now slides into the Northeast region where ultimately the path to the playoffs goes through the loser of the TB/OC match. BW's playoffs stock drops rapidly as RB looks to continue his run within the East Bracket.