newCentral here to give you a rapid preview of the men’s singles final tomorrow. Jonathan Jemison, the hero of the team tournament and captain of the Emory Eagles, faces off against Leo Vithoontien, the young King in the North and 4th Knight to collect multiple All-America honors in the finals. Their roads to the final are eerily similar…both Jemison and Vithoontien dispatched their first three opponents by the same six set scores with only their quarterfinals differing in order – that’s weird. Both had to defeat two bears: a Polar and an American Black Bear. The Eagle beat both twos, while the Knight had to fell both ones. Both went down in their semifinal, but came back to win comfortable third sets. Both were in the doubles draw, but neither is going for the Kzoo Double tomorrow (JJ’s Triple Crown is also out of play). Both of these players have been on absolute tears this week, and both will hopefully bring their A game for the Championship.
(3) Jonathan Jemison (Emory)
Road to the Final:
First Round: def. Ian Yi (Kalamazoo) 6-3, 6-2
Second Round: def. Varun Shanker (Caltech) 6-2, 6-4
Quarterfinals: def. Jerry Jiang (Bowdoin) 6-1, 6-3
Semifinals: def. Bernardo Neves (Wash U) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
Leo Vithoontien (Carleton/CMU)
Road to the Final:
First Round: def. Adrien Bouchet (Emory) 6-3, 6-2
Second Round: def. Wilson Lambeth (Trinity Tx) 6-2, 6-4
Quarterfinals: def. Ethan Hillis (Wash U) 6-3, 6-1
Semifinals: def. Grant Urken (Bowdoin) 2-6, 7-6, 6-2
I think that the biggest X-factors going into this Championship Match will be:
Jonathan Jemison’s time on court this past week
Jemison and his fellow seniors led Emory to a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP this week, and JJ clinched in coming back to defeat a Nko Parodi that had him on the ropes. Jemison played 1 doubles and 1 singles in every match for Emory en route to the title. That’s six matches over three days where JJ had to play (starting Monday 5.20): Kozlowski & Neves + Hillis (W/unf.); Cuba & Martin + Cubs (W/L); Parodi & Gordy + Parodi (W/W). Following a day’s rest and a night’s (or ten) celebration JJ began his singles and doubles run. JJ and Bouchet defeated Vithoontien and O’Kelley in the first round before falling in the quarters to Bowdoin’s 1 – so that’s one additional match more than Vithoontien. Jemison has played twelve matches since May 20th compared to Vithoontien’s five (since the 24th though) – that’s not a negligible figure. Yes – of course, Jemison is going to come out with four years worth of Emory Fight, but if this match goes late and the points go long – those extra hours on court could tip the endgame scales in Vithoontien’s favor.
Jonathan Jemison’s Final Match as an Eagle
I alluded to this above with JJ bringing four years of Emory culture, grit, and fight to the table tomorrow but it can’t be understated: this will be one of Emory’s most decorated players last time playing for EU. The emotions, for a player (and team) that already run high, will be past atmospheric levels, and while we won’t get B-Metz levels of pandemonium in Kalamazoo, it will be an electric environment. You can bet your savings that the Emory faithful will be LOUD. Vithoontien’s on his way to becoming Carleton’s Jemison (hell, he could be their Pottish if he wins tomorrow and never looks back) but it’ll be paramount that he maintains his composure and that cool demeanor in the face of Emory’s Convocation.
Kalamazoo’s Sunday Forecast
Indoors Friday, Outdoors Saturday – the setting for this season’s singles finale could become an X-Factor. The forecast predicts mid 60s to low 70s with scattered showers (~30% chance of rain in the early afternoon) and a wind so mild it’d make a silver Corolla or skim milk seem exciting. Vithoontien is King in the North and is no stranger to indoor tennis, while JJ rules the outdoors of the Atlantic South. On paper, it would seem that Indoors would favor the sophomore and outdoors the senior. They both can hit the yellow off the ball on either wing – maybe Vithoontien more balanced, and have proven that they can do so indoors or out. I think that the weather won’t be a major factor because of the final’s location in or out, but weather could be a major factor if the match starts outdoors and delays happen due to early afternoon rain. Rain delays in tennis are a sh*tshow, and they impact everyone differently. Despite the difference in their experience, I would favor Vithoontien if weather created mid-match delays because Jemison plays with an immense amount of emotion and adrenaline, and that the stop and start caused by rain delays would be more detrimental to him than Vithoontien – who is cooler than the other side of the pillow.
Here’s hoping it’s a barnburner.
newCentral.