The match was everything it was built up to be Saturday afternoon at the Vancouver Tennis Center.
Two state finalists a year ago, Alex Wallace of Union and Kent Andreasen of Skyview, found themselves in a friendly battle for the Class 4A District 4 championship.
Of course, it went three sets.
Wallace got the best of Andreasen in the final set for a 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 victory.
“This means a lot to me, but what means more to me is we both played well,” Wallace said. “We had a quality match. It really came down to the end. I think we were both winners in this match. It was that close.”
So close, in fact, that one shot simply bounced Wallace’s way for a 40-15 advantage. Wallace’s winner hit the top of the net, bounced straight up, then hit the top of the net again on the way down before falling to Andreasen’s side of the court.
“Sorry about that,” Wallace told his opponent.
No tennis player wants to win like that, but it turned into the momentum Wallace needed. After Andreasen made it 40-30, Wallace put the match away. Andreasen trailed 5-2 in that third set before winning the next two games. Then the net cord.
“That’s tennis,” Wallace said. “You’re going to get some of those and you’re going to lose some of those. It’s unfortunate that it happened at that point in the match.”
“It can go either way,” Andreasen said. “That was a tough one for me.”
When the match was over, both friends shook hands and felt good about their performances.
“That was one of the finest matches we’ve played,” Andreasen said. “It’s not often we both play well at the same time.”
The two, who have been friends since preschool, have been facing each other in junior tennis for years.
Last spring, they both finished second at their respective state tournaments. Union was a Class 3A program then, but now is in 4A along with Skyview.
While competitive on the court, they also are generous with their line calls. Several balls throughout the match could have been called out, but they prefer to play anything that is close.
“I know he’s going to do the same thing,” Wallace said. “I have enough confidence and trust in him. It’s kind of like a buddy system.”
It makes for quality tennis.
Wallace got out of a jam in the first set and forced a tiebreaker that he won 7-4. Andreasen rallied with a 6-3 victory in the second set. Wallace got a break in game one of the deciding set and never trailed.
“I’m kind of disappointed,” Andreasen said. “I had a set point in the first set. I’m also happy for him. It was a great match.”
The top two individuals and doubles teams from this tournament advance to bi-district in the spring. Andreasen must play teammate Chris Erkkila on Monday for the No. 2 berth.
Tommy Foster and Connor Horne beat Jacob Buckley and Mark Bright in an all-Union final in doubles, 6-2, 6-3. Both teams will advance to the bi-district.
Union, which finished its third consecutive undefeated league season and first in the 4A Greater St. Helens League, captured the team title, outscoring Skyview 34-21.
Wallace said his goal is to get through bi-district then finish some unfinished business at state.
“I finished third my freshman year, second sophomore year,” the junior said. “My goal is to get first this year.”
The Class 4A state tournament returns to the Vancouver Tennis Center again in May.
And Wallace would love to see a friendly face on the other side of the net in that championship match.
“I would love nothing more than to play him in the state finals,” Wallace said of Andreasen. “We’d go out and battle and have a great match.”
