Sunday, August 01, 1999
Finesse meets power in father-son tennis final
Tontzes, ranked No. 1 in U.S., favored to win
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
The tag “defensive team” didn't set well with Charles R. Hoeveler from Ross, Calif.
“We have always been an attacking team but we do it differently,” Hoeveler said after Saturday's semifinal victory in the National Father and Son Clay Court Tournament.
“We'll do anything to take the net because that's what wins in doubles. But I don't think we're a defensive team,” he said.
Doubles teams with contrasting styles — Charles R. (father) and Charles H. (son) Hoeveler, who prefer finesse, and powerful Dr. William and Chris Tontz — play for the championship today at 2:30 p.m. at the Cincinnati Tennis Club.
Ranked No.1 in the U. S., the aggressive and overpowering Tontzes advanced to the finals with victories over Neal and Cole Newman (6-2, 6-4) and Scott and Scott Estes (7-6, 6-1).
The defending champions and No.2 seeded Hoevelers earned the championship berth with victories over John and Jason Yeager from Edgewood, Ky. (6-1, 6-1) and Jav and Karl Morgan (6-1, 6-2).
John and John Peckskamp, from Cincinnati and seeded sixth, lost to the Morgans 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 in a nearly three-hour quarterfinal match.
The Peckskamps remained alive with a back draw victory over Hugh and Ian Thomson, but the Yeager's were eliminated, losing to Jeff and Kyle True from Bowling Green, Ky. (2-6, 7-5, 6-2) in the back draw.
John Yeager was impressed with the Hoevelers and likes their chances of repeating as champions.
“They return everything and make you win every point,” Yeager said. “They are very steady and that's what makes a good doubles team.”
The Hoevelers broke serve early and often in both sets against the Yeagers in the quarterfinals. They closed it out in 40 minutes, which proved to be an advantage in the semifinals against the Morgans.
“It was a bad day and we never got going,” Yeager said. “"Two years ago we won a set off of them but the son (Charles H.) is so much better now.”
The Tontzes will be tough to defeat.
Chris Tontz, the 25-year-old son of Dr. William Tontz, an orthopedic surgeon from San Diego, Ca., is ranked No.170 in the world in doubles and eligible for the Great American Insurance ATP qualifier.
“I hurt my shoulder at Wimbledon and I plan to take about six weeks off after this tournament,” said Chris Tontz, the third of 10 children. “I'm eligible for the ATP but won't play.”
The Tontzs won the National Father and Son Grass Court Championship last Wednesday in Boston, Mass. and appear on top of their game.
“We've played the Tontzes four times,” Charles R. Hoeveler said. “We won the first three and they won the last time. It should be a great match.”
The third- and fifth- place matches are scheduled for 11 a.m. today
ATP ENTIRES: Kelly Jones and Dan Kronauge, the Thomas E. Price Metropolitan doubles champions, will play in the Great American Insurance ATP qualifier next week.
Tammy Whitlinger Jones, the wife of Kelly and a participant in the ATP Seniors Tournament, confirmed the duo will play next Sunday at the ATP Tennis Center in Mason.
Jones and her identical twin sister, Terri Boynton, were in attendance Saturday to watch their uncle, John Whitlinger, play in the National Father and Son Clay Court Tournament.
However, Jason Yeager, the Met singles champion, has not been offered a spot in the ATP qualifier.
“At this point, if I was offered a spot, I wouldn't accept it,” Yeager said. “It would be too late a notice to get ready for it.”
Past Met champions Jeff Wolf and Craig Boynton were awarded spots in the ATP qualifier.
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