Interesting final in Rhode Island

smackman wrote: To Smackman: yes, I believe Vlad Shapiro did play the Vets in New Zealand.  Nice fella I took a guess when I saw him here and asked if he was Russian and if he knew people on this forum, I saw him in the over 50's singles winning a hard earned game against a top Australian player

Yeah, Vlad is from my club (Boston TTC), and yes, he went to NZ Worlds. Was a bit upset when he lost QF to a Chinese gentleman with tricky LPs who served fast illegal off-the-palm serves despite Vlad's repeatedly asking him to not do that. Any case... spilled milk.

Vlad is literally the only player from my club who I was never able to beat even in club or league matches. All the other top Boston TTC players I have beaten at least once. With Vlad I have had match points (once it was 2-1 and 10-8), the other time led 2-0 and then smth like 8-5 in the 3rd. A few times was just two points away from a win. But never won.