Shanghai, China – Junior
Leon Liu and recent graduate Matt Kandel traveled to Shanghai to represent Williams in the annual International Collegiate Friendship Tennis Tournament this past week. The tournament, which was in its second year of existence, saw some notable changes from last year, particularly the addition of Australian players into the draw, as well as a team event taking place the first day. It was on day one that the United States team squared off against the men from down under, in what would soon be described as an all-time classic battle. Kandel started the day off against Monash University's number one singles player, and wasted no time running out to a quick 3-0 lead. He wrapped up the set 6-2, and the USA led 1-0. Unfortunately, the Aussies claimed victory at the number two singles spot, leaving the fate of the match to be decided by Liu and his partner, a Wesleyan University standout. The Australian duo, a team experienced in partnership, used their familiarity early on to snatch an opening break. Liu would not be deterred however, and firing off two return winners in a single game, grabbed the break right back, leveling the set at 1-1. The next game saw some outstanding tennis played from all four players, and ultimately a perfectly timed backhand down the line return from Aussie Mineth Nawarathna gave the team the break, and a 2-1 lead. The teams traded hold up to 4-2, where Liu was serving at 30-40. Cool, calm, and collected, Liu stepped up to the line and delivered two aces back to back, keeping the Americans alive. Unfortunately, the Australian pairing served too well, and captured the match 6-4, catapulting the underdog team into the finals against team China, where they would go on to win the title.
On Day 2 of the tournament, singles play began, and Kandel and Liu both opened up their campaigns with straight set victories. Liu faced an opponent from East China University of Science and Technology, and the level was high as the midsummer Shanghai heat grew increasingly oppressive into late morning. Liu captured the first set 6-3, backed by big serving and a backhand that one spectator described as "the second Great Wall of China." Liu would run away with the second set as his forehand caught fire, hitting a tournament high 13 winners off that wing in a single set. Sealed with a down the line laser beam, Liu jogged to the net with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 victory. Kandel followed suit, serving and volleying his way to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over his Australian opponent. In the quarterfinals, Kandel and Liu would face the Aussie top two singles players, both of which looked to be tough matches on paper. But neither American struggled as they brought their A game, eyeing an all Williams semifinal matchup. Liu dispatched his opponent 6-2, 6-3, in a classic Williams College wrecking. Kandel also won 6-2, 6-2, and the semifinals were set.
What happened next was such a spectacular display of competing, sportsmanship, and tennis acumen that the lack of video footage was anathema to tennis fans around the globe. Kandel and Liu's match earned the title of Match of the Tournament, as it went three sets and lasted 3 hours and 52 minutes. Kandel raced out to a 4-1 lead in the first set, but Liu would not be denied his chances to fight back. After a 43 shot rally on a no-ad deuce point ended with Liu punching a backhand volley through the court for a winner, the set was back on serve, and the crowd was thrown into a frenzy. The pair traded holds until 6-5 in the set, when Liu was serving at 15-40 down. Kandel caught the return cleanly and drove Liu back into the corner, before coming to net and finishing off the volley, for a one set to love lead. Luckily for all 2,300 spectators in attendance, this match was far from over.
The second set proved to be an absolute roller coaster, with Liu snatching an early break and holding it all the way until 5-3, where he served at deuce. A set point and a break point, the pressure on both players was immense. Liu served out wide to Kandel's backhand, and the slice return looked to be in the net. However, clipping the net cord and dribbling over, Kandel has broken back in stunningly lucky fashion. The set continued all the way to 6-6, where a tiebreaker began. Trading points back and forth, the score reached 5-5, with Kandel serving. Confident in his play, Kandel rose up and laced a beautiful serve up the T, but Liu was one step ahead, stepping in and smoking the return faster than the serve. The shot caught the line, and Kandel had no choice but to applaud with the rest of the crowd at the majestic display of skill and courage. At 6-5 in the tiebreaker, Liu left no doubt this time, and with a perfectly executed serve and volley, he smashed the overhead out of reach of Kandel, and this match was headed three.
The deciding set featured excellent serving from both men, as they exchanged 12 straight holds to get to another tiebreaker. The two gladiators combined for 47 aces in the match, each player clocking serves above the 140 mph mark. In the tiebreaker, Kandel got an early mini-break, and found himself up 5-1, two points from the match. Liu stormed back to 5-4, but Kandel was serving, and thus the match was on his racquet. An ace up the T at 5-4 earned him a match point, but Liu wouldn't go away quietly, and a brilliant forehand return up the line set up the backhand winner that would set the score at 6-5, in Kandel's favor. The next point was worthy of the match, a 16 shot, scintillating rally that concluded with Kandel hitting a forehand angle, and sneaking in for a backhand volley into the open court. Liu dove for the shot and made it, but with him on the ground, Kandel was able to put the winning volley into the court, sealing the match, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6. The two teammates embraced at the net, utterly exhausted and respecting each other's competitive prowess.
The following morning, Kandel sealed the win, defending his title, and bringing home another international title to Williamstown. Williams tennis remains as a force to be reckoned with both in the NESCAC, the NCAA, and on a global stage.
