Rackets | News

Ali Robinson and Guy Barker beat James Male and Mark Hue Williams 3/15 15/4,15/5,1/15,15/10,15/9 in the second leg of the World Doubles at Queens but the Champions retained their Title by 2 points.

If holders Mark Hue-Williams and James Male were not clear favourites after the New York leg of the world title challenge, few would have risked a bet against them after their lightening start at Queens. Shrugging off support for Guy Barker and Alister Robinson, Hue-Williams took control of the first game within minutes, serving a brilliant run of 13 points before sealing it 15-3.

But Barker and Robinson had no intention of bowing to the odds. Already four games to two down with an eight point deficit from the first leg, they kept their heads and fought back to transform the challenge into the tightest ever.

The challengers hit their stride in the second game, varying the serve and dominating the front of the court to power ahead to 6-1. The charge was momentarily halted by the Queens fire alarm, a disturbance which could have easily broken their rhythm. But the two were not rattled and kept Male and Hue-Williams frozen out of the game, which they took 15-4.

The first two games were won easily by the pair that built an early lead. The third was identical. Robinson again dominated early, with a series of lightening backhands down the wall and around the angles to build a lead. With Barkers rock solid rallying, the two looked again cruised through to win the game 15-5.

The pattern continued in the fourth game. But this time Male who was shrewdly given the first service hand by his partner started to make his presence felt. He gave the pair a useful run of four points. Then Hue-Williams, again serving beautifully to the left hand court, took it on to 10-0. As it turned out, that was the moment when Barker and Robinson needed to scratch a few valuable points from the game. But, still rocked back on their heels, they managed only one from their two service hands before surrendering the game 15-1.

Now it was all down to the rules. If Barker and Robinson could get back on top and win the last two games they would only draw the match on games. Points would then be counted, with an equal number for both sides leaving the holders with the title.

As if spurred on by the realisation that the match could go to the wire, the fifth game at last saw a true battle for the lead. A run from Robinson took the pair to 7-2. Hue-Williams and Male fought back to 5-7 before losing a memorable rally that saw all players attack and retrieve beautifully, until Male finally succumbed to an unforced error. Barkers backhand and Hue-Williams retrieving shone out as the two pairs battled for control. In contrast to the long service runs of earlier games, each side was forced out for a point or two at a time, until Barker and Robinson broke through the defences to snatch the game 15-10.

That left them needing to win the sixth game by 15 points to 6 to secure the title. The electric atmosphere on court was more than mirrored in the gallery with every point ending with a deafening roar. Barker relinquished the serve after one ace, but Male and Hue-Williams were knocked straight out with the score still at 1-0. Despite resolute defence from Male and Hue-Williams, the challengers attacked their way to 4-0 in a series of hard fought exchanges. From 6-3, the challengers started to pull away, reaching 12-3. They had finally turned the tables. Barker and Robinson needed three points to secure the championship, while the holders still required four. But an unflappable Male turned to take four lets on Barker's serve, before breaking the run. Barker and Robinson, having got so close, were unable to get back into the service box and the holders scrabbled their way to 9-12 and victory. Robinson and Barker were able to close out the most exciting of matches 15-9, but the world title had already slipped away by two points.

Other Links

.......................................................................................................................................

Read About The History Of Rackets

From its roots of a game played outside taverns, through to the modern game.

About The Past Champions

The past and present leading players of the game.

Find Out The Latest Results In The World Of Rackets

All the results, fixtures and draws for the UK game.