Spoiler: Outback Champions Series Championship on October 26, 2008 @ SMU

[Mike Cottrill]

Outback Champions Series Championship on October 26, 2008 @ Southern Methodist University’s Turpin Stadium

The finalists were Thomas Enqvist and Jim Courier. They were undefeated in round robin format.

The players walk out after giving a quick interview for the Tennis Channel and greeting the crowd:

The match starts out with both players playing well. Thomas was serving big and controlling his service games. Some nice backhand rallies from Thomas and Jim:

There were plenty of Jim trademark forehands.

 

[Mike Cottrill]

Continued: 1

However, Thomas did a good job neutralizing them early with excellent footwork and mixing up his backhands as shown in this rally: http://vimeo.com/2095172

Thomas gets the break going up 5-3. Feeling confident, he puts a little more on his serves. Thomas was placing his serves well with serving speeds in the mid 120’s:

Thomas takes the first set 6-3.

Thomas was doing fine in the second set. Unfortunately, he dropped serve when he hesitated and decided to approach the net, and Jim caught him in no mans land. This was the first of three critical points Thomas loses at the net. However, Thomas volleyed well in the warm-up as shown here:

 

[Mike Cottrill]

Continued: 2

Jim goes on to take the second set 6-4.

Thomas takes the early lead in the champions tie break when Jim makes several forehand errors. Is Jim down and out?

Jim gets back on track with Thomas’ second critical error at the net. Jim turns around and tells us he hears an alarm. He said something like “Am I a dog or can anyone else hear that alarm.” Jim goes over the linesmen and checks his watch. Was Jim hearing a mental note to wake up?

Match Point, Jim hit a short defensive lob …

Yes, Thomas dropped the overhead in the bottom of the net for the third critical error at the net. What a great sportsman! He smiles just as big as he did when he came on the court. He jumps the net and congratulates Jim with the biggest smile.

Thomas and Jim played a great match 3-6, 6-4, 10-8(TB).

 

[drakulie]

wow!!! Unbelievable photos, and love the way you added the story line.

Thanks for sharing.

BTW, what frame is Thomas using there?? A mid plus??

 

[drakulie]

Just to add:

I just noticed the video. I absolutely love that angle. You could really see what they are doing to the ball.

Also, the high speed video yo have of courier, and that other guy serving are unbelievable.

What camera are you using for these shots/videos?? I know you have posted it before, but coulnd't remember.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mike Cottrill]

wow!!! Unbelievable photos, and love the way you added the story line.

Thanks for sharing.

BTW, what frame is Thomas using there?? A mid plus??

Did you check out the video?
I think it was the Mid. I will post a picture of it in a few.

 

[drakulie]

Did you check out the video?
I think it was the Mid. I will post a picture of it in a few.

yeah, I saw the video. Great stuff. I didn't notice it at first, but went back and posted a second time, including mentioning your other vids.

 

[Mike Cottrill]

Just to add:

I just noticed the video. I absolutely love that angle. You could really see what they are doing to the ball.
.

I had one of the best seats in the house for video/pictures. Not sure why the guys with big high $ lenses were on the other side with the sun in their eyes.

Also, the high speed video yo have of courier, and that other guy serving are unbelievable.
.

Thanks

What camera are you using for these shots/videos?? I know you have posted it before, but coulnd't remember.

Thanks for sharing.

The stills were taken with a Pentax K10D and the video with a Sony DCR-DVD505.

To bad Vimeo degrades the video. The orginal really shows the pace and the differnt spins Thomas put on those backhands.

 

[drakulie]

Thanks. The photos are just unreal, and the video is very clear. (guess I have gotten use to seeing youtube too much). LOL

I could only imagine how clear the videos are, because my camera gets awesome video (nothing like yours), and on my computer>> they are crystal, but when uploaded to youtube>> they suck.

Anyway, you say Thomas is using a mid???? (just like drak???)

 

[Mike Cottrill]

wow!!! Unbelievable photos, and love the way you added the story line.

Thanks for sharing.

BTW, what frame is Thomas using there?? A mid plus??

Mid? Butt cap different:custom handle??

 

[drakulie]

^^Yup, the butt cap is different than mine. NOt sure about the handle. But that is a mid.

Thanks for the photos.

 

[drakulie]

Hey Mike??? Any more photos????

 

[Sup2Dresq]

No thread should be dominated by Drak and another poster. So I'm posting.

POST that mofo!

P.S. The video you took was amazing. Though I still don't think they can hit 110mph forehands. Right Drak?

 

[goober]

Interesting that JC is wearing Prince shoes. As I assume he is no longer sponsored, he can choose whatever he wants.

 

[treblings]

Great thread, thanks for the pics and video.

 

[Mike Cottrill]

Interesting that JC is wearing Prince shoes. As I assume he is no longer sponsored, he can choose whatever he wants.

He was wearing Prince shoes last year as well. Last year his shoes looked like they were a year old. This year he switched shoes after the match strarted (middle of the first set) and looked at the crowd and made a comment about his new shoes he just put on. He had his handle wrapped in a turnagrip that looked two weeks old. It was a rag... His gear/cloths are mismatch of stuff.

 

[roundiesee]

Thanks for posting Mike! Great video and photos. Noticed there's no logo on Thomas' strings, so he must not be sponsored by Head?

 

[Mike Cottrill]

Thanks for posting Mike! Great video and photos. Noticed there's no logo on Thomas' strings, so he must not be sponsored by Head?

Thanks. I also noticed his bag was all black and I did not see and logo.

 

[matchmaker]

Thanks for posting this, I really enjoy it. The video is of a very good quality BTW.

 

[Steve F.]

Outstanding posts Mike! Love the match report and photos.

Thanks also for the camera info. What's the lens you have on there? good stuff!

 

[Mike Cottrill]

Outstanding posts Mike! Love the match report and photos.

Thanks also for the camera info. What's the lens you have on there? good stuff!

Thanks Steve,
I had to work with what I had. I used a Pentax 100mm lens for all these shots. Nice lens but very slow to focus. The guys on the other side with the sun in their face were using high dollar 300/400mm F2.8/F4.0 lenses. Must be nice, but they were on the wrong side most of the time.

 

[drakulie]

No thread should be dominated by Drak and another poster. So I'm posting.

You are welcome to dominanate with us anytime. However, I don't know who these other guys are, or who invited them.

P.S. The video you took was amazing. Though I still don't think they can hit 110mph forehands. Right Drak?

That's right. Only 115 MPH Kicker/Topper/Spinny types of serve.