This past June, I witnessed the greatest tiebreaker I have ever seen, and it took place right here at BTC. Now I know what you are saying: The greatest tiebreak of all time was the McEnroe/Borg 4th set 18-16 tie break at the 1980 Wimbledon finals. While that match may have been one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time - with two of our sport’s finest players or all time riveting millions of fans in a truly classic matchup - beauty remains in the eye of the beholder. Move over McEnroe and Borg. You’ve been outdone

The matchup I prefer involved Collin Crawford and partner John Salmon pitted against Frank Goreleski and Dan Santelli. Three of these four are locals, the 4th being a NYC resident born and raised in Vestal. The setting: Court 3 indoors. The event: the 23rd Annual BTC Clay Court Championships. The match: 1st round Men’s Doubles.

The match started out innocently enough, with Goreleski & Santelli racing out to a one set lead and seemingly ready to close out the match. As is often the case, serving out a match is easier said than done. Before we all knew it, the 2nd set slipped from their grasp and a 3rd had begun. The “we” consisted of a small group of tournament contestants who, having already finished, was rather impatiently hanging around for this match to finish, so everyone could gather at Yanni’s for post-match analysis. Comraderie goes hand in hand with local competition. The time was late, after 9 p.m. The mood was restless at best. LET THE MATCH JUST FINISH!

At some point toward the end of the 3rd set, the mood changed. Players began elevating their games. Alarmingly good shots started happening. Suddenly, neither team wanted to lose this 1st round match. All of a sudden, these four entered into that seldom-visited realm of the 3rd set tiebreak. Our interest was peaked. We had a battle going. Yanni’s could wait. Destiny was about to take place.

The tiebreak started tensely. No player gave an inch. First, Samon with a two-handed forehand winner. Then Crawford with an amazing lob retrieve. Then Santelli with a scintillating forehand serve return, hit harder than any amateur has a right to. Followed by Goroleski with a service ace. The stakes had been raised. In a heartbeat, the score was 6-6, with one match point already saved. Then, as if by magic, all four players simultaneously entered that even less-visted realm of “tennis zen”. Their playmaking went off the charts. Match points weren’t merely saved, they were won in dramatic fashion, with the final shot being extraordinary. Points were not lost, they were won. This was no longer an ordinary 1st round doubles match. Every point made the highlight reel. 12-12, 14-14. Saving match points with a blazing winner became routine.

In the meantime, loyal fans knew they were witnessing something special. We huddled courtside like pack rats by the door to Court 1, barely able to contain our enthusiasm. Maybe a beer or two helped our mood at this point. Who cares. Could history be in the making? Would they beat the 18-16 mark?

On and on the contestants battled, oblivious to everything but the tennis ball. Time seemed to stand still. Suddenly it was 18-17, serving for the match. And once again, a shot well above the players’s normal level of play was struck. Winner. The modern record broken! History being made at BTC. And yet they fought on. Finally, the inevitable occured; a ball was netted, and the tiebreak ended, 22-20 in favor of Collin and John. The look on their faces was more of relief than victory. All four players just stood there, unsure of what to do. Weary beyond weary, they staggered off the court with their partners, unaware of their new-found place in tennis history and lore. “We,” being of the old Aussie school of tennis, merely said, “Great match mates. Time to celebrate.” And that was the end of it. But the match remains etched in my memory: Four local players giving it their all, stretching their mental and physical limits to the limit, providing drama and theater for a precious few in attendance. During that tiebreak, these were my heros, achieving what we all dream of on a tennis court: taking your game to the next level, side by side with your partner, with a match on the line. Sorry John, sorry Bjorn, you played the 2nd greatest tie break of all time.

Collin, Dan & Frank, 3 of the four contestants in attendance at the Sambursky/Gennett Men’s Pro-Am (signing autographs)reminiscing about the match over a cold one, just as all the past greats do.