Peter VanLingen and his son Van played Bart and Bob Scott in the finals of the National Father and Son Clay Court Championship Tennis Tournament Sunday at the Cincinnati Tennis Club. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Experience prevailed over youth Sunday in the championship match of the National Father&Son Clay Court Tennis Tournament at the Cincinnati Tennis Club.

        Veterans Peter and Van VanLingen claimed a seventh clay court championship in 11 appearances, defeating Bob and Bart Scott 7-6 (9), 6-4.

        “This one is more special than the six previous because we were under a lot of pressure,” said 59-year-old Peter, a teaching professional at the Westside Racquet Club in Nashville, Tenn.

        “It doesn't get easier. It only gets tougher as we grow older.”

        Seeded No.5, the Scotts of Colorado Springs, Colo., started the match by overpowering the VanLingens, jumping to a quick 3-1 lead.

        “When we were down 3-1, I told Van during the break that we had to start playing point for point,” Peter said. “We did just that and things started to go our way.”

        The VanLingens won four of the next five games to take a 5-4 lead. Both teams held serve, setting up a tiebreaker.

        After failing to convert two set points at 6-4, the VanLingens closed out the tiebreaker 9-7.

        “I served very poorly today,” 30-year-old Van said. “But in doubles and especially on clay, a service break means little or nothing.”

        Starting the second set with a break, it appeared the VanLingens would cruise to victory. But the Scotts broke back to even the set at 4-4.

        However, Bart, a senior at the University of New Mexico, couldn't hold serve, and the VanLingens held on to win the match.

        “I didn't play well and dad carried me throughout the tournament,” 21-year-old Bart said. “I know his back has to be sore.”

        A new VanLingen put the duo's appearance in this year's tournament in doubt.

        “I have a 7-week-old baby girl (Hallie) at home in Lucedale, Miss., and we didn't practice at all coming into the tournament,” Van said. “If my wife (Laurie) hadn't delivered three weeks early, we wouldn't have been here. We faxed in the entry form on the final day. Laurie told me if I was going, don't come home without winning it.”

        The VanLingens first won the tournament in 1991 and followed with victories in 1992,'93,'95,'96 and 2000. An injury to Peter forced them to miss last year's tournament.

        “The first three championships were probably the easiest,” Van said. “I don't think we lost a set and no more than six games in any match. Like dad said, it gets tougher and tougher.”

        The Cincinnati Tennis Club will host the tournament next year for a 30th consecutive season.

Sports Stories

Americans cheer Armstrong on to fourth Tour victory Tour de Lance Sato stars for Deveroes champion Cintas Seventh heaven in tennis tourney Use your head to swing from your heels Agassi rolls past Gambill in Mercedes Tennis tourney's future in doubt Farmer, Cooksey among 2002 inductees into Ky. Hall of Fame Volunteers learn to welcome foreign visitors to Indianapolis Hayes mows down John Deere field by 4 shots Tiger, Jack dream team for tonight's TV match Elliott passes Marlin for record 5th Pocono win Zook is no Spurrier Coming up this week

FORUM: Please don't kill the 'greatest game'
FORUM: It's time to toss the antitrust exemption
FORUM: Local Voices - Two cents worth
FORUM: Strike would be costly, and not just in money
FORUM: Who's not on first? 3 steps to save baseball
Mets 6, Reds 5
Reds box, runs
Finances foil shot at Rolen
Larkin planning to return Tuesday
Up next for Reds
Wizard's journey ends at Hall of Fame
Giants get Lofton; Dodgers add Shuey
Notes from Sunday's games
NL roundup
AL roundup
Louisville 6, Charlotte 0
Westbrook fractures left wrist
Competition heats up in quarterback race
Top-10 defense looks to clamp down
Chiefs withdraw offer until Gonzalez drops hoops
Commute's expensive, but James at camp
NFL Notes