first 'Da', then 'Nyet'

"Titan, in the old country the NKVD would be at my door in the morning and I would be on a train to a Gulag in Siberia" was all that Vladimir 'Russkie' Kartsev could say upon conclusion of his second set as TT's partner this date at the Yonkers Tennis Center. The 'Russkie' was crestfallen to have let a set get away from him and the 'bombastic bloviator' (3-6) to 'Big Al' DioDati and Max 'Tutor' Tuchman after having opened up a three games to one lead. 'Big Al'/'Tutor' played Kartsev like Baryshnikov danced a ballet during the last 20 minutes of action. TT had nary a ball hit to him as Al and Max wore down 'Russkie' in long rallies and exploited his weak volley. In stark contrast to 'Russkie's second set play was his performance in the stirring rally put forth by the 'immobile minotaur' and the Russian emigrant in the opener. Trailing 3-4, love-40 TT/'Russkie' rallied to win the set (7-5). 'Russkie's forehand was a dominant factor and his mobility often enabled a point to be prolonged allowing TT to finish it with a winner. As the teams met at net Tutor opined, "this was a lot like 1957. The Russians got off to a great start then too with Sputnik, but you know we Americans got to the moon first in the end anyway." Big Al remarked, "Is that why Titan hits all those moon balls?"