Monday, July 30, 2001
Morse-Karzens win Father-Son tennis
Survive third set for third title
By Dave Schutte
Enquirer contributor
After winning the National Father and Son Clay Court championship Sunday, Jerry Morse-Karzen hugged his 18-year-old son, Brett, congratulated the runners-up and then quickly found a chair to rest.
“I had knee surgery on June 5 and doubted I could play this week,” Morse-Karzen said after defeating Zan and Jeff Guerry, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3, Sunday at the Cincinnati Tennis Club.
“It was hot and humid, and I wasn't sure I had enough strength to play the third set. I put on a few pounds after the surgery and my conditioning isn't what it should be.”
The clay court title was Jerry Morse-Karzen's third. He won with his father, Richard, in 1977 and 1982 and became the first to win both as a father and son.
If it wasn't for the 10-minute break between the second and third sets, Morse-Karzen probably would have been on the losing end.
The first set was marred by controversy when chair umpire Dave Meyer called a foot-fault on Zan Guerry at love-30. The call upset the former touring professional and led to a service break and 5-6 deficit.
“That call came at a critical time in the first set and cost us the championship,” Zan Guerry said. “Foot-fault calls should be made by a linesman who is much closer.”
Jerry Morse-Karzen then held serve to lock up the first set.
During the two-minute break between sets, Guerry pounded several balls on an adjacent court before resuming action.
The Guerry's, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., dominated the second set, taking a 5-0 lead before Brett Morse-Karzen held serve to avoid the shutout.
“I told myself going into the third set that I had to gut it out,” said Morse-Karzen, a part owner of North Shore Racket Club in Illinois.
“Luckily the trainers here are excellent and they took care of me during the break. I was worried because I wasn't sure if I had enough strength left.”
The Morse-Karzen's broke 18-year-old Jeff Guerry for a 3-1 advantage in the third set and then served out for the victory.
“I hit the ball solidly but I played poorly,” Zan Guerry said. “I was a few inches off on a lot of shots and I wasn't scoring off the forehand.”
Zan Guerry, a former All-American at Rice University and touring professional, also was a two-time clay court champion, winning with his father, Alex, in 1966 and 1971.
Third Place
Bob Scott/Bart Scott d. Scott Estes/Scott Estes 7-5, 6-1.
Back Draw Semifinals
J. True/K. True d. J. Fifield/S. Fifield 6-4, 6-4; C. Newman/C. Newman d. B. Blankenbaker/B. Blankenbaker injury default.
Fifth Place
Newman d. True 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
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Morse-Karzens win Father-Son tennis