I'm back, ALL THE WAY BACK...

At least that is how TT feels after the match he played at Kinsley this date. On this glorious last day-of-winter day Titan regained his touch and played a solid three set match. TT was paired with 'Slats'- his long time doubles partner from the late '90's when Saturday at Kinsley meant a match of this doubles team against 'Big Al' DioDati and George 'the Priest' Riberio. Those sets were in the same barn-burner tradition as was offered today when TT/Slats went shot-for-shot against a pair of Georges - 'Chemist' & 'Teacher.' All 3 sets were really not decided to the last ball of the final game. Multi-deuce games containing long rallies featuring an array of lobs, drop shots, and clothes line returns were the norm. TT/Slats prevailed 7-6 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (4). In retrospect 'Slats' most significant contribution might have been in leading TT in a stretching regimen prior to the first toss. TT is accustomed to 'withering on the vine' at crunch time late in the second set when the mind is still willing but the legs have left the school yard. But not today as TT was dominant on serve throughout (6/8 holds) as he led a comeback from 1-4, double-break down. 'Slats' was given to call TT "Mr. Heart" in set 3 as the Titan's game didn't suffer its usual let down as the duo broke back in game 12 to force another tie breaker. TT knows that his three fellow players can and often do play better than they exhibited today. But 'Chemist' & 'Teacher' saw TT at his best today. 'Slats' put it best as the triumphant duo left the court he opined, "Can you imagine how easy we would have won if I hadn't had 'hands of concrete' at net today, since apparently those 5 cups of coffee you had dissolved the concrete in your sneakers?"