Waubonsie Valley too deep for Wheaton Academy

Abhi Singh is just learning to play doubles in tennis, but he’s really enjoying it, and one reason is that it’s just nice to have someone to talk to on the court.

While Waubonsie Valley coach Phil Galow hasn’t made the final decision about just who will be his first-doubles team, Singh, a three-time state qualifier, and his old friend Deep Chatterjee, a pair of seniors, partnered Wednesday and won their match to help lead the Waubonsie Valley to a 20-4 victory over visiting Wheaton Academy.

The two schools get together early in each season for the meet with the unusual format in which every player gets to play both a singles and a doubles match. Waubonsie Valley won the singles matches 14-2 and the doubles matches 6-2.

“We still have to decide who goes into what position,” said Wheaton Academy coach Matt Hockett. “Today, we saw everyone against top-flight competition in both singles and doubles. Everyone loves singles and they have more experience at singles, so a meet like this will helps us find the right combinations in doubles.”

Singh is hoping to qualify for state as a doubles player for the first time.

“One of the hardest things about singles is that you’re all by yourself on the court,” Singh said. “With a teammate you encourage each other and you don’t worry about the match as much because you’re fighting through the tough stretches together. Deep is good at moving to the net and closing. He has a good serve and solid returns. I’m glad to be playing with him.”

“We’re very close so there’s never a feeling that one of us is letting the other one down,” Chatterjee said. “His game complements mine.”

The two Waubonsie Valley players were the team’s first and second singles last year, but Chatterjee, who has more experience as a doubles player, has become something of a doubles mentor to Singh.

“Abhi is learning how to get to the net quicker,” said Waubonsie Valley coach Phil Galow. “He’s seen how quick to the ball Deep is and now he’s getting to the net instead of just relying on his baseline game.”

Singh said the most unfamiliar aspect of the doubles game is movement on the court.

“Having to move as a team is challenging,” Singh said. “You don’t have to worry about that when you’re playing singles.”

Waubonsie Valley’s first doubles faced formidable competition in defeating Wheaton Academy sophomores Alex Renn and Reid Bertsche 6-4, 6-3.

In their singles match Renn again played Chatterjee tough, but the Waubonsie player pulled it out by a score of 4-6, 6-1 (12-10).

“We were down in the doubles match, but we hung in there,” Chatterjee said. “Alex was good in both matches. He’s smart about where he puts his shots.”

In singles Singh defeated Josh Bertsche 6-2, 6-2.

Waubonsie Valley’s Mike Cioffi, who is still in contention for the first-doubles slot, won 6-1, 6-1 at fifth singles and joined Brendan Franklin at second doubles to win 6-0, 6-0.