2011 Tournament Results

Champion:  Max Estenger

Runner-Up: Segundo Paredes

Championship Match

(1) Estenger def  (3)  Paredes  6-2, 6-2
Semifinals

(1) Estenger  def  (4) Eagon  6-1, 6-0

(3) Paredes   def  (2) Khan     6-3, 2-6, 7-5 

Quarterfinals   

 (1) Estenger  def  Terry       6-2, 6-2

 (4) Paredes def  Zarcone    6-0, 7-5

 (4)  Eagon def Alexander  6-0, 6-0

 (2)  Khan def   Villandre    6-0, 6-0

First Round 

(1) Estenger def Aponte          6-1, 6-0

(2) Khan def  Desai       6-0, 6-0

(4) Eagon def Benson    6-3, 6-1

3) Paredes def  McFarlane 6-2, 6-4

Terry def  Sharpe       6-0, 6-0 

Zarcone vs. DeJesus  7-6(4), 6-4

Alexander  def Varrell  6-0, 6-0

Villandre def Morel        6-0, 6-1  

DeJesus  def Nikita       7-5, 6-4


All-Time Numbers
NAME MATCHES SETS GAMES

Estenger 17-0 34-0 180-44
Paredes 10-5 16-14 179-165
Carballido 5-3 12-8 96-85
Zarcone 6-5 14-10, 112-103
McFarlane 4-3 (09-11)

Estenger defeats Paredes to Capture 5th Straight GSC Crown 6-2, 6-2

Estenger with the 2011 trophy

The old saying goes "that in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king," and that refrain is what #1 seed Max Estenger said moments after winning his 5th straight GSC Tennis Tournament over #3 seed Segundo Paredes 6-2, 6-2.   "I'm happy to win, even though I didn't play my best, but the conditions were pretty severe and they definitely affected both of us."

Estenger jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first set before Paredes finally got on the board.  Both players were tight and hitting tentatively making for long rallies which helped no one with the heat index hovering around 98 for most of the match.

Paredes tried to make a match of it in the second set trailing 2-3 and up 40-15 before a series of backhand errors coughed up his advantage and 2-3 suddenly went to 2-5. Estenger had little offense in his arsenal today, but was content drawing the error from Paredes as he hit shot after shot to Paredes' backhand.   Paredes was also troubled by an inability to finish at the net when he clearly should have had the point.  

Paredes receiving trophy from tournament assistant Anil Sadoo

Still, for Paredes, this was an exceptional tournament as he defeated 3 of the toughest players--McFarlane, Zarcone, and Khan.  He reached the finals for the first time since '08 after failing to make the semis last year.   His game is definitely on the rebound and there is no question that he is the second best in this field.

Estenger's five year performance (5 championships, 17-0 match record,  34-0 in sets)  has tournament officials considering opening up next year's edition to four wildcard invitees from outside of  GSC.   Estenger has stated publicly that he supports such measures.  One other consideration is whether the tournament will happen at all, what with dwindling corporate sponsorships in this economy.  

Championship Point

Match point came on Paredes' serve and illustrates Estenger's strategy of attacking Paredes' backhand.

Championship Match: Postponed Extreme Heat; Final Set for Friday June 10

(1) Max Estenger vs. (3)  Segundo Paredes 

The GSC TT championship match scheduled for Wednesday, June 8, has been postponed due to the dangerous heat index forecast for Wednesday and Thursday in the NYC metropolitan area.  The forecast for Wednesday is 96, while Thursday 98!  The final is now set for Friday, June 10, 5:00 PM.

Day 4 Results: Estenger Cruises to Final; Paredes Stuns Khan

Match point in Paredes' 2 hr. 15 minute epic over Khan

Semifinals

1.  (1) Estenger  def  (4) Eagon  6-1, 6-0

2.  (3) Paredes   def  (2) Khan     6-3, 2-6, 7-5 

On a day when the tennis world's attention was divided equally between the events at Roland Garros and at Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the GSC TT saved the best  for last.  For the third time in the five year history of the GSC Tennis Tournament, Max Estenger will meet Segundo Paredes in the Championship Match.   Paredes punched his ticket with a stunning come from behind victory over Yousuf Khan.  The Ebt Senior had taken a commanding 4-1 lead in the third set and was leading at 5-4, but was unable to close out the crafty Peruvian.  It was a devastating loss after Khan had overcome a bad first set to take command of the match by winning 10 out of the next 13 games following the first set.

Khan

And though Khan may look more precise and technically fluid in his strokes,  it is undeniable that under pressure that smoothness disappears.   By contrast as the third set got more tense Paredes made fewer errors and his flawless defense frustrated and smothered Khan when it mattered most.

After match point, Paredes let out a scream that would have awakened Pizarro from his 500 year slumber in Paredes' native Peru, and then hugged a dejected Khan at the net.  Khan

showed no outward bitterness and showed he is a class act afterwards, but the sting of this defeat will linger for a long time.  He had been working towards a showdown with 4-time champ Max Estenger for two years but because of inopportune mistakes was eliminated before the Championship round.  

Estenger  meanwhile breezed into the finals with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory over Eagon. This was Eagon's second straight GSC semifinal, but unlike last year when he lost a close three set match, this match was never in doubt.  The match was not as one-sided as the score might indicate as it featured some fine rallies and 5 deuce games.   Estenger is now 16-0 lifetime in the tournament and has yet to lose a set in five years.  

The Championship Match will be held on Wednesday, June 8 at GSC at 4:50 PM.

Day 4: Semifinals, Friday June 3

Estenger in action in his Quarterfinals match

Semifinals, Friday June 3:

1.  (1) Estenger vs. (4) Eagon 

2.  (2) Khan vs. (3) Paredes

The GSC Tennis Tournament will feature two Semifinal matches on Friday.  In the first match, Eric Eagon is attempting to do what no one else at Grand Street has done--beat Max Estenger.  Estenger is now 15-0 in matches at this tournament over the past five years.  Last year Eagon pulled off an upset of Khan the number 2 seed, but he will have to summon his best tennis to win tomorrow.

The other Semi will be an all-out war.   It is no secret that both players do not like each other, and one hopes the intensity on the court does not turn into fisticuffs.  (2) Khan wants very much to graduate EBT as the reigning GSC Tennis Champion.  He has dedicated much of the past two years to this goal.  Last year's stunning loss in the Quarters has made Khan even more determined and in this tournament he has yet to lose a game in his two matches.

But his opponent is Segundo Paredes a finalist in 07 & 08, and if not for a knee injury last year would have surely made it further.  But in 2011 he is healthy and playing the best tennis of his career.  His victories over Phys Ed stalwarts McFarlane and Zarcone have made him prepared to take on the big thumper Khan.  Who wins is anyone's guess.  They played a seeding match a few weeks ago and Khan won it in a third-set tiebreak.   

If Khan wins then the Championship match versus Estenger/Eagon will be played on Monday as scheduled.  If Paredes wins, the finals versus Estenger/Eagon will be played next Wednesday due to scheduling issues.  Good luck to all of our Semifinalists!

Day 3 Results: #1 Estenger and #4 Paredes Thru To Semis

Vincent Terry's powerful serve was not enough to defeat Max Estenger

Quarterfinals   

3. (1) Estenger  def  Terry       6-2, 6-2

4. (4) Paredes def  Zarcone    6-0, 7-5

The two Quarterfinal matches played Thursday in the GSC Tennis Tournament were not very exciting for the hundreds of spectators lining the courts.  Segundo Paredes continued his march towards a third finals appearance by taking out John Zarcone 6-0, 7-5.  Paredes has wreaked havoc on the GSC Phys Ed department by defeating McFarlane and Zarcone decisively. He will meet his toughest foe thus far however on Friday in #2 seed Yousuf Khan.

In the other Quarter, 4-time defending champion Max Estenger rolled over young Vincent Terry 6-2, 6-2.  The match featured some lively rallies but Estenger played stellar defense throughout forcing Terry into difficult shots.  Estenger will now try to advance to his fifth consecutive GSC Final on Friday when he will meet #4 seed Eric Eagon.

Day 3 Schedule: Quarterfinals June 2, Thursday

Quarterfinals  4:30 PM 
3. (1) Estenger vs.  Terry    court 3
4. (4) Paredes vs. Zarcone  court 2

The winner of Estenger/Terry will play Eagon on Friday in the first semifinal. If Paredes wins he will play Khan in the second semifinal on Friday.  If Zarcone wins, then he will play Khan in the semifinal on Monday.  Stay tuned.  

Day 2 Results......Khan & Eagon Thru To Semis; Zarcone Beats DeJesus

First Round 

7. Terry def  Sharpe       6-0, 6-0 

8. Zarcone vs. DeJesus  7-6(4), 6-4

Quarterfinals

1. (4)  Eagon def Alexander  6-0, 6-0

2. (2)  Khan def   Villandre    6-0, 6-0

There was a lot of love to go around on the GSC Tennis Courts on Wednesday, but not the amorous kind.  No, this was the tennis kind of love as  3 of the 4 matches were lopsided bagels.  Those matches saw #2  Khan and #4 Eagon winning easily and advancing to the tournament semifinals.   Tournament rookie Vincent Terry clobbered Lenny Sharpe in a First Round match.  He will now play #1 Estenger tomorrow.  

The only interesting match of the day was John Zarcone's near death experience against EBT's Dennis DeJesus.  Zarcone was down 2-5 in the first set before he realized DeJesus was not the same pushover he dispatched easily last year.  Looking more like a full back than a tennis player DeJesus built up a big first set lead relying on his big topspin forehand pushing Zarcone all over the court.  But Zarcone, still rusty after not playing in months, got into a comfortable groove with his backhand slice and forced DeJesus to make shots.  DeJesus eventually wilted under the searing heat and pressure of both the elements and the veteran Zarcone's intense play.  Zarcone won the tiebreak and broke DeJesus' will.  Still, DeJesus

improved on last year's performance versus Zarcone.  Zarcone now has a showdown Thursday in the Quarters against #4 Paredes.  They met way back in the 2007 (in the first tournament) with Paredes winning a wild three-setter  6-1, 1-6, 7-5.

Zarcone serving to DeJesus

Day 2 Schedule: Wednesday June 1, 4 PM GSC

First Round 
7. Terry vs. Sharpe
8. Zarcone vs. DeJesus
Quarterfinals
1. Alexander vs. (4)  Eagon
2. (2) Khan vs. Villandre

There is a 60% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon, so if play gets washed out we will play these matches on Thursday.  Additionally, Sharpe has indicated he cannot play Thursday and thus will forefeit since he has one absence already.  In that case, Terry would be through to the Quarters and play Estenger Thursday.  Paredes would then play the winner of Zarcone/DeJesus.  Khan/Villandre winner will play the winner of Paredes/Zarcone/DeJesus.

DAY 1 RESULTS: Tuesday, May 31

The first official day of play at the GSC belonged to Segundo Paredes

who destroyed last year's finalist Corey McFarlane 6-2, 6-4.  This was the third straight year both players met in the GSC Tournament and it was the second time Paredes won.  But unlike the previous matches which went three sets, this one was over quickly.  It seemed as though McFarlane was poised to take the second set when he led 4-3, and was heard by some at courtside to have said about Paredes, "I can see him choking right now."  

Apparently, McFarlane must have been looking in a mirror as he proceeded to drop the next 3 games to lose the set and the match.  A crestfallen McFarlane was gracious and classy in defeat, though he must have been shocked at the outcome considering his confident attitude before the match.  Paredes moves on to the Quarterfinals where he will meet the winner of the Zarcone vs. DeJesus match Wednesday.  For McFarlane,  he has now lost consecutive matches in the GSC Tournament.  In fact, besides being 0-2 in those matches, he has lost all four sets as well and has only won 8 games while dropping 24.  His friends say he will now have time to go scout the NYC kindergarten basketball leagues to find the right players for the 2024 PSAL GSC Girl's BBall season.

1.  Terry vs. Sharpe           DNP

2.  Alexander  def Varrell  6-0, 6-0

3.  (2) Khan def  Desai       6-0, 6-0

4.  Villandre def Morel        6-0, 6-1  

5.  DeJesus  def Nikita       7-5, 6-4

6.  (3) Paredes def  McFarlane 6-2, 6-4

Earlier First Round Play

(1) Estenger def Aponte          6-1, 6-0

(4) Eagon def Benson              6-3, 6-1

Some of the highlights of Day 1........