Alex Stacy took home his first Charleston Public Courts Men’s Open singles tennis title on Saturday, defeating Jason Prince in straight sets at Charleston Tennis Center.
“It was a full-circle moment,†said Stacy, who has played in the Charleston Public Courts since before he was a teenager. “I remember playing in the 12-under. I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life.â€
Spectators watching the final saw the two players battle through several close games, with Stacy seemingly getting the edge that gave him control of each set.
“I felt good coming into the match,†said Prince, who had earned an appearance in his first Men’s Open singles final also. “I felt like I was moving well. I felt like I was hitting well. I had some chances early in the first set. I had a quick love-40 on his first service game. I believe I had break points in his first service game. I just didn’t convert them. He was clutch when he needed to be early.â€
The two split the first three games of the first set, with Stacy holding a 2-1 edge. Stacy then took the fourth game after jumping to 40-love and winning after Prince rallied with two break points. But he was unable to force deuce or take a lead.
Prince took the fifth game after he rallied for deuce, then took the next two points to make the set 3-2 for Stacy.
After Stacy took the sixth game, Prince again made the first set 4-3, but he failed to tie it after taking another 40-love lead and was unable to score a final point against Stacy.
Stacy closed out the first set with a win, then opened the second set with another. Prince tied that one with a win in the second game of the second set but said that victory came with a price.
Prince and Stacy battled through six deuces before Prince held service for what proved to be his last win in the match.
“That felt like a must-win,†Prince said. “I did end up holding serve in that game, so I wouldn’t say that was the breaking point necessarily, but, I mean, he definitely took a toll on me in that game. He made me work for it.â€
Stacy scored six of the next seven points for a 3-1 lead in the second set. Prince kept the final two games of the set close but was never able to overtake Stacy.
“I knew that was a big game,†Stacy said of the second-set tiebreaker. “It could have determined who won the match. I was lucky to get out of my next service quick and not waste too much energy on the changeover.â€
Stacy and Prince both committed to playing in the 65th Charleston Public Courts next year.
Other champions crowned on the Public Courts’ final day on Saturday were as follows:
Men's 3.0 Open Singles -- Dustin Bach.
Men’s 3.5 Open Singles – Finn Robinson.
Men’s 4.0 Open Singles – Ethan Shepard.
Men’s 45 & Over Singles -- Jason Waybright.
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Men’s 65 & Over Singles – Mike Deardorff.
Women’s Open Singles -- Julia Orcutt.
Women’s 3.5 Open Singles – Katherine Mullins.
Women’s 4.0 Open Singles – Diana Panucci.
Men’s Open Doubles -- Jaymes Haggerty and Dominick Centofanti.
Men’s 3.5 Open Doubles – Kevin Tiffey and Patrick Tiffey.
Men’s 4.0 Open Doubles – Brian McCutcheon and Robert McCutcheon.
Men’s 4.5 Open Doubles -- Noah Fulks and Grayson Millette.
Women’s Open Doubles – Emily Thayer and Nadia Orcutt.
Women’s 3.0 Open Doubles – Holly Wilson and Crystal Bastin.
Women’s 3.5 Open Doubles – Christine Minardi and Sarah Korwan.
Women’s 4.0 Open Doubles – Kelli Hinkle Mabe and Ashlee Cooke.
Women’s 4.5 Open Doubles -- Emily Thayer and Taylor Rose.
Mixed Open Doubles – Julia Orcutt and Ryan Mullins.
Combo 6.0 Mixed Open Doubles – Jim Kirk and Holly Wilson.
Combo 7.0 Mixed Open Doubles – Jeanene Plata and Tanner Moy.
Combo 8.0 Mixed Open Doubles – Lisa Hunter and Jason Waybright.
Mixed 55 and Over Doubles – Kimberly Nelson and Matthew Sarten.
