MONROE - When one of the strings on Al Schroeder's tennis racquet broke in the decisive third set of the Monroe City Class A men's singles tournament, he wasn't in uncharted territory.
It wasn't the first time Schroeder has hit the ball with a lot of top spin. He went to his car at Recreation Park on Sunday and he came back with another racquet. Schroeder survived a challenge from Lauri Juonela and defeated him in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, to win his fourth straight singles title and fifth overall at the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department's 38th annual city singles tournament.
"I never thought I would win four in a row," Schroeder said. "I don't know how many more of these I have left in me."
Juonela, an exchange student who played No. 1 singles for Monroe High School and qualified for state this spring, played his last match in Monroe before heading back to Finland. Although Juonela completed his senior year at Monroe, he said he still has two years of high school remaining in Finland.
Juonela won the first set, then he battled some cramping.
Juonela said he will always remember qualifying for state at Monroe.
"Before I came I didn't know how good the people are here," Juonela said.
The gusty conditions on the courts at Recreation Park provided a challenge.
"The final match with Lauri was one of the toughest," Schroeder said. "Lauri is a great player. Lauri's game was tricky. I couldn't get a feel on him for the first 10 or 12 games."
Two Monroe graduates who played on the boys tennis team this spring advanced to the semifinals. Juonela and Artem Beer made runs to the semifinals.
In the first round, Beer defated Chris Garrow, 7-5, 6-4 and he won a three-set quarterfinal match over Jason Lostetter, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. Schroeder defeated Beer in a semifinal match, 6-1, 6-2.
Juonela advanced to the championship match by defeating Joe Soddy in the semifinals, 7-6, 6-4. Soddy went on to defeat Beer in a third-place match, 6-1, 6-2.
For the second straight year, Monroe junior Kristin McArdle defeated friend and tennis buddy Ellie Shuda to capture the women's singles tournament championship.
Since Shuda went to Chicago to see Mary Poppins on Sunday, the two friendly rivals played in the championship Saturday. McArdle defeated Shuda 6-0, 6-2.
McArdle, who was the No. 1 singles player for the Monroe girls tennis team last season and Shuda played No. 2 singles.
"Ellie is always a really good competitor," McArdle said. "We are used to playing each other and know each other's style. If you know what you are up against, it's not like a surprise when you come into it."
Shuda used the tournament as an opportunity to prepare for this fall's prep tennis season.
"I just played overall not my greatest," Shuda said. "I had a lot of unforced errors."
In the 14 and under division, Kevin Noriega defeated Eric Bush in three sets in the title match, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Bush defeated Erin Gellings, 8-2, then defeated Matt Miller, 8-0.
Monroe will have a city doubles tournament on July 18-19 and a mixed doubles tournament on Aug. 8-9.
It wasn't the first time Schroeder has hit the ball with a lot of top spin. He went to his car at Recreation Park on Sunday and he came back with another racquet. Schroeder survived a challenge from Lauri Juonela and defeated him in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, to win his fourth straight singles title and fifth overall at the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department's 38th annual city singles tournament.
"I never thought I would win four in a row," Schroeder said. "I don't know how many more of these I have left in me."
Juonela, an exchange student who played No. 1 singles for Monroe High School and qualified for state this spring, played his last match in Monroe before heading back to Finland. Although Juonela completed his senior year at Monroe, he said he still has two years of high school remaining in Finland.
Juonela won the first set, then he battled some cramping.
Juonela said he will always remember qualifying for state at Monroe.
"Before I came I didn't know how good the people are here," Juonela said.
The gusty conditions on the courts at Recreation Park provided a challenge.
"The final match with Lauri was one of the toughest," Schroeder said. "Lauri is a great player. Lauri's game was tricky. I couldn't get a feel on him for the first 10 or 12 games."
Two Monroe graduates who played on the boys tennis team this spring advanced to the semifinals. Juonela and Artem Beer made runs to the semifinals.
In the first round, Beer defated Chris Garrow, 7-5, 6-4 and he won a three-set quarterfinal match over Jason Lostetter, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. Schroeder defeated Beer in a semifinal match, 6-1, 6-2.
Juonela advanced to the championship match by defeating Joe Soddy in the semifinals, 7-6, 6-4. Soddy went on to defeat Beer in a third-place match, 6-1, 6-2.
For the second straight year, Monroe junior Kristin McArdle defeated friend and tennis buddy Ellie Shuda to capture the women's singles tournament championship.
Since Shuda went to Chicago to see Mary Poppins on Sunday, the two friendly rivals played in the championship Saturday. McArdle defeated Shuda 6-0, 6-2.
McArdle, who was the No. 1 singles player for the Monroe girls tennis team last season and Shuda played No. 2 singles.
"Ellie is always a really good competitor," McArdle said. "We are used to playing each other and know each other's style. If you know what you are up against, it's not like a surprise when you come into it."
Shuda used the tournament as an opportunity to prepare for this fall's prep tennis season.
"I just played overall not my greatest," Shuda said. "I had a lot of unforced errors."
In the 14 and under division, Kevin Noriega defeated Eric Bush in three sets in the title match, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Bush defeated Erin Gellings, 8-2, then defeated Matt Miller, 8-0.
Monroe will have a city doubles tournament on July 18-19 and a mixed doubles tournament on Aug. 8-9.
