By Jimmy Hyams
Knoxville’s Chris Groer was looking to four-peat as the 40s doubles champion in the Atlanta Senior Invitational.
Then he was looking for a partner.
Groer and Knoxville’s John Fritts, a former Tennessee tennis player, had won the Atlanta event three times in a row. But Fritts cramped during his singles match,
Groer noticed that his singles nemesis, Eduardo Rincon, a former Davis Cup player for Colombia, wasn’t playing doubles.
Groer asked Rincon. Rincon said yes. And the rest of the doubles field said “uncle.’’
Groer and Rincon blitzed through the field, losing only four games in xxx matches, capturing 20 games in a row and taking the finals with ease, 6-0, 6-2.
“Eduardo was back by the fence, ripping returns,’’ Groer said. “The only time he came to the net is to shake hands.’’
Groer and Rincon, the tennis coach at Kennesaw (Ga) State, have crossed paths as opponents several times. Groer lost a Futures match to Rincon on the clay in Florida in 1998. Last year, he lost to Rincon in singles in the Senior Cup in Huntsville, Ala., 11-9 in a super tie-breaker.
“He’s had my number in singles for about 20 years,’’ Groer said.
On the flip side, Groer has never lost to Rincon in doubles.
“It was sort of a good partnership,’’ Groer said.
Due to other obligations, Groer was unable to play in the 40 singles. He’s won it twice and lost in the finals twice.
Next year, Groer advances to the 45s in singles and doubles.
Next weekend, Groer and Fritts will play for Tennessee in the 35 division of the Senior Cup, along with big-serving John Chesworth of Knoxville. It will be Groer’s 10th year in a row in the competition.
In the 45s, Knoxville will be represented by Bob Williams, Taylor Hamilton and John Gibson.
Georgia is the No. 1 seed, Tennessee the No. 2 seed.
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