From one matchup to the next, the deciding match can vary by court. Still, the first singles court typically features the most competitive play, with each team’s top players battling. This was true for the day when Westfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood would meet for the first time this season.
In under 90 minutes, four of the five matches concluded in victories for Westfield, deciding the win in favor of the Blue Devils, advancing their overall record to 7-1.
While the Blue Devils clinched the victory in less than 90 minutes, all eyes remained fixed on the first singles court where a much-anticipated showdown was still unfolding. SPF senior Anand Sahasrabudhe, a Middlebury College commit with a Universal Tennis Ranking of 11, faced Westfield’s sophomore Chris Winters, a young but talented player with a UTR of 8.
Against a titan of high school tennis, Winters held his own, resulting in entertaining and impressive rallies. “I was just trying to stay in the point. I know people at that level tend to hit with more pace than I’m used to and with better placement than I’m used to, so I was just trying to stay in the point and grind it out,” said Winters.
Sahasrabudhe won the overall match 6-2, 6-2, but the four games Winters secured left a smile on the sophomore’s face. “I’m most proud of the score. I got four games off of the No. 1 ranked player in the state. He is a really great player and a great guy, and I’m glad with how I played today,” said Winters.
In one specific rally, Winters hit a drop shot, forcing Sahasrabudhe to sprint up to mid court and set up Winters for an aggressive winning volley. After Winters celebrated with the usual pump of his fist while locking eyes with his supportive mother, he continued with this trend of forcing Sahasrabudhe to move up slightly, allowing himself to take a strategic position close to the net.
Head coach Matthew Varhley noted that Winters also saw “better serving results after deciding to hit his second serve, a kick serve, to Sahasrabudhe’s backhand.” This and Winters’s ability to play out long, defensive points earned respect from his titan of an opponent.
“Chris has a great serve and a good forehand. He was hurting me with that, so I was trying to get it to his backhand,” said Sahasrabudhe. “I thought I served decently during the whole match, and although I was uncomfortable sometimes, I just tried to stay in it.”
Throughout the match, Winters twisted and adjusted to Sahasrabudhe’s pace, especially against the tough serves that earned Sahasrabudhe his fair share of quick points. “I started standing a bit further back because it gave me more time to absorb his pace and I think that worked really well,” said Winters.
The remaining courts hosted less competitive matchups.
Senior captain Ben Duan and junior Evan Khan swept their SPF counterparts in 12 games on the second and third singles courts, respectively. However, when these two schools face one another, Duan is normally paired against senior Edward Li who was absent on a college visit. “I like to treat everyone I play as a serious competitor, but my biggest rival this year is probably [Li]. We’re good friends, so I’m looking forward to playing in counties,” said Duan.
Westfield’s doubles teams showcased their chemistry and cohesion—essential ingredients in what’s shaping up to be a deep postseason run. The first doubles duo of senior Ethan Lung and junior Leo Goldman cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win, while senior Garrett Gao and sophomore Justin Lee dominated in a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles.
“They compete for each other,” said Varhley. “While the boys play on five separate courts, they are connected to each other and understand that to ensure the best possible outcome for the entire team, they have an individual responsibility to perform at their highest possible level.”
The players’ team-first mentality will prepare them for more competitive matches to come in May. “We have a very challenging schedule. In addition to participating in the Newark Academy Invitational and hosting the Blue Devil Invitational, we’ve added Delbarton, Montgomery, Livingston,” said Varhley. Also, the team added rivals East Brunswick and Pingry to prepare them thoroughly for the state tournament.
After the match against SPF finished, the Blue Devils also honored their four seniors, Duan, Gao, Lung and co-captain Eshann Khera who is out due to an ankle injury, with some speeches and refreshments after the matches.
“I learned a lot about facing challenges and grit through my matches. Facing cheaters has made me a lot more responsible when dealing with frustration, so I’m grateful for this team to have taught me that. I was lucky enough to be voted as captain, so I’m just trying my best to help all of my teammates whenever I can. I’ve had a lot of experience with winning and losing, so if there’s anything that I think will help my teammates, I’ll tell them,” said Duan.
With the regular season entering its most demanding stretch, Westfield showed it has the talent and team chemistry to weather adversity and compete at the highest level.
The Blue Devils rolled over Roselle Park after facing SPF and will rematch Summit at 4 p.m. at Summit Memorial Field.
