Lorry Lazenby and Rob Taylor spent Sunday afternoon playing tennis against one another.
It was a long afternoon.
Lazenby defeated Taylor, 6-2, 6-2 for the championship of the Joplin Open in men’s open singles, but both players had little time to recover.
“It was much closer than that,” Lazenby said. “I think he has won two of the last three times we’ve played. Rob is one of the most annoying players to play. The harder you hit the serve, the harder it comes back to you.
“He’s going to hit his winners. I had a high percentage of first serves. I won the long rallies. Rob’s return is so good, you have to find a way to disrupt him.”
They faced off again for the doubles championship, and this time Taylor, playing with Brian Berkstresser, outlasted Lazenby and David Price in a tiebreaker, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (4).
“We kind of came back to Earth in the second set,” said Berkstresser, a 1986 Joplin High School graduate who played at Missouri-Rolla. “The real story is I had an excellent partner. My serve is my strength, but my return is not.”
Lazenby, who played tennis at Southeast Missouri State, advanced to the championship by defeating Joe Cummings, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals and Dennis Mailes, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals.
Taylor, a former high school state champion from Miami (Okla.) who played at Missouri State, moved into the final by defeating Ben Coltharp, 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals and Alex Mailes, 7-6 (6), 7-5 in the semifinals.
“Lorry played very well. He didn’t miss much today,” Taylor said after the singles final. “I tried to shorten the points some and went for shots. He just seemed to hit everything back.
“It’s always a close match when he and I play. It’s just whose having the best day and hitting their shots that day.”
Bret Heiser won the men’s 4.0 singles title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Omar Elshabassy, and Richard Perry and Brandon Splitter won the boys 16 doubles title.
In the women’s division, Julie Johnson won the open singles championship with victories against Lisa Pendrack, 6-4, 6-1, and Ema Amador, 6-0, 6-1. Pendrack was runner-up.
In mixed doubles, Johnson and Jack Johnson defeated Pendrack and Ronnie Acebo, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
Sports
October 1, 2012
Lazenby, Johnson win Joplin Open titles
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Large-school state track and field competition begins today
Globe File Carl Junction's Alex McMullen (left), pictured during the district track meet on May 11, is part of the Bulldogs' 4x400 relay team that has qualified for the Class 3 state meet in Jefferson City.
Shane Williams of Mount Vernon is among the favorites in three events at the MSHSAA Class 3 Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday at Dwight Reed Stadium in Jefferson City.
Continued ... - 2 Lions earn All-American track honors
- Eagles' state tennis entries are veterans
- Oronogo driver wins second feature
- Seven athletes selected for PSU's hall of fame
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