Monday, July 22, 2002
Puentes wins first Met tennis title
By Dave Schutte
Enquirer contributor
After two years as the tournament's runner-up, Rey Puentes finally won the Thomas E. Price Metropolitan men's singles championship with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Jason Zimmermann on Sunday at Lunken Playfield.
Rey Puentes lunges to return a shot.
(Greg Ruffing photo)
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The two players endured 90-degree heat and high humidity in the 2 1/2-hour match.
“I started playing in (the Met) when I was 15, and sure, I wanted to win it badly,” the 29-year-old Puentes said.
A teaching professional at Windwood Swim and Tennis Club at Harpers Point, Puentes was so intent on winning this year, he took the week off from work to prepare.
The first set went back-and-forth as each player twice saved serve.
Zimmermann had one set point at 6-5 after hitting a winning drop shot. But Puentes responded with a short-hop return for a winner and then won the set 9-7 in the tiebreaker on Zimmermann's unforced error.
“I wasn't down after losing the first set,” Zimmermann said. “Craig (Boynton, former professional) told me, "Whatever happens in the first set, move on in the second.' Rey's a grinder and did what he had to do to win.”
Jason Zimmermann returns a forehand.
(Greg Ruffing photo)
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Puentes took a 5-1 lead in the second set before Zimmermann rallied to cut the deficit to 5-4. Puentes then served out for the victory.
“I didn't get tight after I went up 5-1,” Puentes said. “Jason goes through streaks and he went on one at that point. All I wanted to do was weather the storm.”
A former touring professional, Puentes hasn't given up hope of making it back to the pro tour.
Zimmermann, who will be a sophomore at Duke University, used last year's semifinal loss as a springboard for the remainder of the summer. He hopes to do so again this year before returning to school in late August.
“There's nothing flashy about my game, but I've got pretty good legs,” Zimmermann said. “I do a lot of things well and don't make many mistakes.
“I get upset when I lose,” he added. “I played much better the rest of last summer, and I plan to get motivated by today's loss.”
Neither Puentes or Zimmermann knew if they would return for the 2003 tournament.
DOUBLES: Jeff Wolf and Dan Kronauge made it a three-peat, winning another championship with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Bruce Connors and Matt Pledger.
The all-time leader in Met singles and doubles victories, Wolf has won six singles and 13 doubles championships dating to 1985.
Kronauge has captured five consecutive doubles titles, four with Wolf and the other with Kelly Jones (1999). Kronauge's five-peat tied him with Marty Wolf (1992-1996) for the most consecutive doubles championships.
“From a physical standpoint, I didn't train to play in the heat,” Kronauge said. “The heat takes the legs out of my game. Today, I returned well and we did what it took to win. I definitely played better in the semifinals.”
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Puentes wins first Met tennis title
