BOLING IS ROLLING IN NATIONAL 45S; 13TH-SEEDED PLAYER REACHES FINAL WITH DOMINATING WIN.Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer Ross Boling appeared to be the least threatening player remaining before Saturday's semifinals of the USTA USTA United States Tennis Association USTA United States Telecom Association USTA United States Trotting Association USTA United States Telephone Association USTA United States Twirling Association USTA United States Trademark Association National Men's 45 Hardcourt Championships at the Westlake Tennis & Swim Center. Then he stepped on the court and proved otherwise. The man from Whitelake, Mich., with a graying beard and lacking the matching tennis attire players customarily wear, looked like just another aging weekend athlete. That image quickly crumbled crum·ble v. crum·bled, crum·bling, crum·bles v.tr. To break into small fragments or particles. v.intr. 1. To fall into small fragments or particles; disintegrate. , though, as the 13th-seeded Boling easily defeated 12th-seeded Peter Kelly Peter Kelly may refer to:
The victory earned Boling a berth in today's 11 a.m. final against three-time champion Gene Malin Gene Malin (June 30, 1908 - August 10, 1933) was an American actor, emcee, and drag performer during the Jazz Age. He was the first openly gay performer in Prohibition-era Speakeasy culture, and started the Pansy Craze. of West Hills, who advanced with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win over Peter Bronson. Boling dominated from the outset by playing from the baseline and continually using a slice shot that kept Kelly off balance. ``That's just kind of the way I play,'' Boling said of his patient approach. ``My main thing is just working him point for point, make him make the shots. ``That's definitely a big factor. You try to see if the guy can hold up . . . see if I can hold up, too. When you start off like that, he's staring stare v. stared, star·ing, stares v.intr. 1. To look directly and fixedly, often with a wide-eyed gaze. See Synonyms at gaze. 2. To be conspicuous; stand out. 3. up a big hill all day and knowing it's not going to cool down anytime soon. It's definitely important to get off to a good start.'' Kelly managed spurts off greatness, but couldn't sustain it. He followed each game he won with a quick loss in the next and didn't come close to winning a game in the second set. The players' manner on the court differed as vastly as their fortunes in the match. While Kelly was often heard yelling yell v. yelled, yell·ing, yells v.intr. To cry out loudly, as in pain, fright, surprise, or enthusiasm. v.tr. To utter or express with a loud cry. See Synonyms at shout. n. at himself and occasionally dropped his racket in frustration, the quiet Boling, who downed energy-boosting drinks during changeovers, rarely disputed a call. Boling seemed to tire at times, but for good reason. In addition to the sweltering swel·ter·ing adj. 1. Oppressively hot and humid; sultry. 2. Suffering from oppressive heat. swel heat, which is nothing new for Palm Springs-resident Kelly, Boling had to endure an extra-long schedule the day before. ``I had a long doubles match yesterday,'' Boling said of Friday's 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (9-7) win over the pair of Steve Futchko and Rudy Sanchez. ``And I didn't have long to rest after my singles match. I felt it today. I was lucky we got out of here in two (sets) today.'' Fourth-seeded Malin, 49, claimed the singles title in three of the tournament's past five years, but Boling has youth on his side. Boling, who turns 45 this year and just returned to competitive play last year after a couple years layoff Layoff 1. When a company eliminates jobs regardless of how good the employees' performance. 2. A risk reduction, made by investment bankers, that minimizes the potential downside associated with a commitment to purchase and sell a stock issue unsubscribed by stockholders holding , took third place earlier in the year at the national indoor championships. He still regularly competes in the 40-and-over division, where he's reached the quarterfinals of two national tournaments this year. ``He's a good player, there's no question about that,'' said Malin, who is optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op about his first meeting with Boling. ``I don't think he's faced a serve of my caliber, or a return. If he beats me, he beats me.'' |
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