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 News from Around Banderas Bay | February 2007 
Martinez Brothers Win Canto del Sol Pro Am Doubles
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
The 22nd Annual Canto Del Sol Pro Am concluded Saturday with a thrilling doubles match between the Martinez brothers (Roberto and Sergio) facing defending Amateur Champion, Raul Meza, with this year's professional playing partner Norberto Aguirre.
The two teams held serve for the first ten games in the first set, but the Martinez team has three break opportunities to win the first set in the tenth game. Aguirre and Meza held serve to tie the set at five, and then went on to win the next two games to capture the first set 7-5.
The second set was tied at two, when the Martinez brothers won two consecutive games to go up 4-2, but the Aguirre/Meza team battled back to tie it at four apiece before Roberto and Sergio won the final two games of the set to win 6-4. That evened the match at a set each as they went to the deciding set.
The Martinez team won the first three games of the final set, playing inspired tennis before their opponents won a game. Roberto and Sergio were leading 4-2, then broke serve and held their own serve for a 6-2 third set victory and the championship. The brothers split the $5000 peso first prize, as Aguirre picked up $2500 pesos for his work during the tournament and Meza had to settle for the runner up trophy this year.
The two teams drew applause from the tennis enthusiasts in attendance for their superb play. The happiest of the fans was their Dad, Polo, who is a popular tennis pro at the Canto del Sol club.
Playing in the "A" division finals was 13 year old Esteban Said, who just a month ago shocked the local tennis players and fans by his runner-up finish in the last local tournament. His opponent was Duncan Forbes, who he defeated in a close three set match in the semifinals of the same event.
This time Forbes was no match for the smooth and consistent youngster, who won the first five games of the match before giving up a game and taking the opening set 6-1. The second set had Forbes trying different techniques to throw Said off his game and the two were tied 2-2 before Esteban ran off the final four games for a 6-2 second set win and the championship trophy.
At maybe five feet tall, we are all waiting to see Said put on some height and muscle as he physically matures. Said is off to play Regional and National tournaments all over Mexico in the 14 year old division. Congratulations Esteban!
The "B" finals were delayed a day and the "C" finals pitted Miguel Cuevas against a much younger Carlos Bolaños. Bolaños got to the finals by defeating Jean Paul Larrivee in two tough sets.
Jean Paul is Emile's brother and comes to Puerto Vallarta every winter for two months to get out of the Montreal weather and enjoy daily tennis here. Bolaños had an easier time in the finals defeating Cuevas in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
Kudos go out to Tennis Director Martin Parra and his staff as well as to General Manager Rene Rodriguez, for yet another exciting and crowd pleasing Pro Am. Oh yes, the players loved the tournament as well. |
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