MOUNTAIN VIEW AT FREMONT-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2006

By Shashin Shodhan

The Yo-Yo Learning Center multi-purpose room in Fremont is packed to capacity with a large contingent of Mountain View supporters and many of Shashin Shodhan's students and their families.  This match had arguably the best atmosphere out of the league matches of this young season.  Fremont looks for their first win in league play where as the Mountain View Marauders hoped to match their season-opening 4-0 shut-out of Palo Alto.  The Fremont Flash presents the lineup of Shashin Shodhan, Tuan Anh Nguyen, and Nash Darukhanawalla for singles and Shashin Shodhan and Ankur Patel for doubles.  Mountain View is led by Sean Lee, Joey Hu, and Michael Sung with Wilson Tsao and Henry Sit for doubles.

SHASHIN SHODHAN, ANKUR PATEL, AND NASH DARUKHANAWALLA HOPED TO LEAD FREMONT TO THEIR FIRST VICTORY OF THIS YOUNG SEASON. (Photo by Long Nguyen)

Joey Hu (Mountain View) vs Nash Darukhanwalla (Fremont)

When Hu played on Shashin Shodhan's Milpitas team in the past season, he had a strong blocking and hitting game but didn't have a developed loop.  Thus Shodhan asked Darukhanwalla to play with backspin which would make it difficult for Hu and his inverted rubber to smash consistently.  However, Hu lands a loop early in the match so the strategy had to be modified as he must have been working on that part of the game since Shodhan last saw him play.  Darukhanawalla serves primarily sidespin and topspin and that worked well but Hu is too steady with his countering and would sometimes unleash a powerful forehand smash.  Hu wins this match comfortably and Darukhanwalla must improve his backhand play if he wants to move up to the next level.

NASH DARUKHANAWALLA IS UNABLE TO BREAK-DOWN THE STEADY COUNTERING AND BLOCKING GAME OF JOEY HU. (Photo by Long Nguyen)

Sean Lee (Mountain View) vs Shashin Shodhan (Fremont)

Lee is the more aggressive of the two players in the opening game and Shodhan is on the defense.  Down 1-0 in games, Shodhan builds a 6-2 lead in the second but loses 7 of the next 8 points primarily by playing erratically in serve, serve return, and the short game.  Thus he does down 9-7 and loses 11-9.  The third game features improved play from Shodhan as he builds a huge lead and wins comfortably 11-5.  His counterlooping with his forehand won him several points this game.  Shodhan is behind from the start of the fourth game until its end as Lee focuses on playing short and Shodhan again makes too many mistakes in this part of his game.  Lee wins 3-1 and puts the Marauders up 2-0 in the team match.

Michael Sung (Mountain View) vs Tuan Anh Nguyen (Fremont)

Michael Sung has a very strong forehand looping game and Nguyen has to not give any weak balls that could be looped for winners.  Nguyen keeps the pressure on throughout this match with a strong looping game and blocks back many of Sung's loops as well.  Nguyen wins this one with a very lopsided 3-0 victory to put Fremont on the board.  Mountain View now leads 2-1.

Wilson Tsao/Henry Sit (Mountain View) vs Shashin Shodhan/Ankur Patel (Fremont)

The combined ratings of both teams are similar but the scores would not point to that fact.  Mountain View dominates every aspect of this game and Fremont never finds any rhythm throughout this match.  Shodhan misses many serve returns and Patel looks uncomfortable moving in doubles.  This was a good learning experience for Patel as he has very little experience in doubles.  Patel says "I wasn't warmed up."  Mountain View is now up 3-1 and one match from their second straight victory to open this winter season.

Joey Hu (Mountain View) vs Shashin Shodhan (Fremont)

Hu is looking for his first win over Shodhan.  The closest Hu has come is having a 2-0 lead on Shodhan in the opening season of this league before Shodhan adjusted and won the next 3 comfortably.  Shodhan hopes to keep his perfect record over Hu where as Hu hopes to break through.  Shodhan knows Hu liked to get in with his strong forehand smash but Shodhan keeps the pressure on Hu with his two-winged looping game where Hu couldn't unleash his smash with much frequency.  The first and last games were controlled from start to finish by Shodhan and the two players split the middle two games which both ended in deuce.  Mountain View is now up 3-2 but Fremont hoped to send this match to the 7th and final match.

SHASHIN SHODHAN PUTS FREMONT ONLY ONE VICTORY BEHIND AFTER HIS WIN OVER JOEY HU. (Photo by Long Nguyen)

Sean Lee (Mountain View) vs Tuan Anh Nguyen (Fremont)

Nguyen has a good forehand loop but Lee holds his own in this category.  Lee has shortened his strokes in recent times as is necessary with the game seemingly become faster and faster.  Both players try to keep the ball short and get the first attack.  Nguyen's backhand hit has improvedand is able to hit winners with it for the first time, including off of Lee's forehand loops.  Both players try to get in with their forehand and Lee comes out on top 3-1 with every game won by him ending 11-9.