The margin between Vu-Anh Thai of Land O'Lakes and Gregg Strange of Mitchell is close, but injuries have often settled the matter and might again this year.
By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published April 17, 2005
Land O'Lakes' Vu-Anh Thai glanced across the court at his closest rival, lifted his left arm and tossed a tennis ball into the air.
Ahead in the second set of a much-anticipated match against Mitchell's Gregg Strange last week, Thai was a few points from victory and was about to hit a second serve against one of the county's top returners.
Thai held nothing back. His right arm came slicing down, his racket strings gave off that sweet pock! and the ball flew cleanly down the court at more than 100 mph.
Strange froze as the ace flew past him.
That was the way it went as Thai won 6-4, 7-6 in a matchup of the top No. 1 singles players in the county.
Strange, the Times' All-County player of the year in 2003, prefers to play smash-mouth tennis. His forehand flies and his serve can eclipse 120 mph.
He also acts like a Golden Retriever, fetching any ball that comes across the court. But tendinitis in his right elbow limited Strange's effectiveness against Thai.
"I was just more or less going through the motions," Strange said. "I was just letting balls go by me. My arm was killing me. Toward the end, I tried to make a comeback. But I could barely move."
The injury forced Strange to withdraw from a No. 1 singles match against Thai two months ago. The two were scheduled to meet again Feb. 28, but Gators coach Karen Turman and first-year Mustangs coach Joe Dixon agreed to reschedule the rematch for last week to allow Strange time to recuperate.
Trouble is, Strange still might not recover in time.
The Class 3A, District 7 tournament starts Monday and is loaded at the top. Thai claimed the top seed at No. 1 singles, followed by Strange. Central's John McDonald is the third seed.
Strange said he is going to take the weekend off before deciding to play. If he withdraws from No. 1 singles, he'll still team with Mike Ciadella at No. 1 doubles play.
"My coach pulled me during a match at Zephyrhills after the first set because of my arm," Strange said. "I'm in a tough position. I was supposed to hit with my trainer this weekend but decided against that. I took three days to rest and I'll see how I'm feeling Monday."
At first, Strange showed no ill effects of the tendinitis, overpowering county competition to go 4-0.
He reeled off four wins on autopilot. In his first match after the injury, he benefitted from not facing Hudson's No. 1 singles player, who was a no-show.
Rain washed out the next four matches, allowing Strange more time to recover. He came back and easily beat River Ridge's No. 1 singles twice and Springstead's once.
But the discomfort came back. He winced as he played in his next two matches, then contemplated withdrawing against McDonald two weeks ago.
The pain eased enough that Strange easily defeated McDonald. Now Strange must face him again Monday to get another chance at Thai in the final.
"McDonald doesn't worry me as much," Strange said. "It's going to come down to me and Thai. I can beat Thai. It's just a matter of how I feel."
The rivalry between Thai and Strange started three years when the two met in the district final. Strange won in 2003 to earn his second straight district title. Thai won last season to reach state in singles for the first time.
Usually, their matches come down to who is healthiest.
Thai missed the district tournament in 2002 with the flu and forfeited to Strange the following year because of a knee injury. Strange survived a rollover in a friend's car in February 2003 and broke his right leg and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in a motorcycle accident 10 months later.
"I feel like there's three strong players and it's a flip of the coin as to who will win," said Thai, the Times' county player of the year last season. "I just need to have my serve and stay confident."
