Algonquin's Davis tops Lurier in final.

Byline: Carl Setterlund

NORTHBORO - Sometimes the formula for success in tennis is thick skin and a short-term memory, but this time the opposite proved true for Algonquin Regional senior Nate Davis.

After a self-described "crushing loss" to Josh Lurier in last year's semifinals, Davis exacted his revenge on the top-seeded Westboro ace yesterday with a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the boys' singles final of the Central Mass. Individual Tennis Championships at Algonquin.

"Beating him in these finals was just perfect. It means so much to me to go out of high school with a victory like this," Davis said. "I've just wanted to win it so bad and senior year there's nothing better to me than to beat some of these opponents that I've never beaten. This is the first time I've beaten Josh Lurier ever."

That wasn't the only big victory in a long day for Davis. Earlier, he came from behind to beat second-seeded teammate Josh Jordan, who usually stars at first singles, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

"Josh (Jordan) has improved so much since last season, so that was an emotional victory as well," Davis said. "I think after (Jordan) beat me in the challenge matches I put a lot of pressure on myself to prove that I was better. When I got the third seed, it was kind of nice because I wasn't expected to win, and it let me fly under the radar and come out on top."

Going up against two of the top players in Central Mass., Davis cited adrenaline and confidence in his own game as the most important factors in pulling off two upsets in the same day.

"Nate basically brings it to you," Westboro coach Peter Allen said, describing Davis' strategy. "He hits that big serve, then comes to the net and plays the net close. He gets you giving up some of your normal margin for error because you think that if you're a little bit high over the net, he's going to pound away a volley so you make more errors."

Lurier had been dominant going into the final, dropping only 15 games in five matches, and he started the final by jumping out to an early 3-1 lead.

Deadlocked at 5-5, Davis found his groove, and started playing to his strengths as he took the next two games, scoring several emotional winners en route to taking the set.

"I went from playing aggressively and controlling the match to playing very defensively and just giving him way too many opportunities," Lurier said. "I ended up being the one who was running around more when my whole strategy was to make him run."

After splitting the first four games in the second set, Davis went on a run, winning three straight to take a commanding 5-2 lead and all but ensure the win.

Trailing, 4-2, Lurier called a timeout to attend to an abdominal injury that he's been struggling with.

"It really didn't get too bad until my first match today when I hit a hard serve, and I felt it," Lurier said. "Hopefully it didn't tear, but it felt like that. That definitely made it a little bit harder. No excuses, he played great, but, yeah, it bothered me."

Lurier attempted one last stand, but with his injury sapping him of any power in his serve and his opponent in full command of an overpowering repertoire, Davis soon closed things out.

"It got to a point where I couldn't serve normally," Lurier said. "I just had to start lobbing it in, and that's definitely not how I wanted to play, but that was really the only way to stay in there. I didn't want to quit at all."

Still just a junior, Lurier said he isn't happy just making the final, as he's done the past two years.

In the doubles final, the top-seeded Sutton duo of Jeff Paadre and Dan Hall defeated Shrewsbury's Jose Olivares and Alex Minalga in three sets.

Olivares and Minalga took the first set, 6-4, but Paadre and Hall, both seniors, rallied to win the next two, 6-1, 6-4.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Algonquin senior Nate Davis returns a shot during his victory in the tournament final. (2) Westboro's Josh Lurier prepares to hit a return in yesterday's final.

PHOTOG: T&G Staff Photos/PAUL KAPTEYN