Mobile Futures Final Play-by-Play

Travis Rettenmaier.

MOBILE, Al -- Travis Rettenmaier defeated Ryler De Heart 6-1, 7-6 (0) in the final of the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic.

Highlights of Match

De Heart missed two easy volleys for unforced errors to give Rettenmaier a 3-0 lead in the first set.

At 5-1 (Rettinemaier ahead) in first set, Rettenmaier attempted a drop shot which ordinarily would be a winner but De Heart ran it down and tapped it back: it toggled on the net fell in. The crowd loved it and roared.

De Heart lost the set on an unforced error. It was one of three unforced errors by De Heart and could be a telling point in the match. 6-1 Rettenmaier, first set.

Rettenmaier Melt Down?

Rettenmaier was bothered by a call on the opposite baseline in the second set. The linesman hesitated slightly and Rettenmaier seized on the point and argued it with the chair umpire. The effects of the call seem to linger and De Heart ran up a 3-1 lead in the second set.

De Heart Tightens Up?

De Heart committed three unforced errors and before he could say Boo, the score was 3-3.

Rettenmaier took to arguing calls again. He seemed to have lost his demeanor and seemed to be unaware that he was in control of the match and in position to win. He slammed two balls against the fence and was given an unsportsmanlike conduct warning.

Rettenmaier continued to argue. Peter Kasavage, International Tennis Federation tournament supervisor -- watching the match as an observer -- told Rettenmaier, "You just shut up and play."

Rettenmaier turned as if to say something back but thought better of it and said nothing. But the official might have saved Rettenmaier from himself because Rettenmaier was becoming deeply involved in arguing calls apparently unaware he was in position to win at 6-1, 3-3.

Rettenmaier's distraction and De Heart's concentration allowed De Heart to go ahead 4-3 in the second set. De Heart seemed to be getting back in the match.

De Heart showed his prowess in executing the overhead smash twice and took a 5-3 lead.

At this point, there was a long rally De Heart was running down a lot of balls but lost the point for a 5-4 score in the second set.

Ryler De Heart.

Rettenmaier Advances (Inspite of Himself)

Despite Rettenmaier's attempt to sabotage his own self, De Heart allowed him back in the set and the score was soon 5-5.

Rettenmaier, apparently not realizing momentum was changing in his favor, called for the trainer. But as soon as trainer Shuhei Suzuki was approaching the court, Rettenmaier waved him away and decided to play on.

(Was that a rest break? Rettenmaier's fitness might be suspect as he was out of professional tennis for some time re-evaluating his career and he was seen breathing heavily in the semifinal match against Artem Sitak.)

Rettenmaier seemed to lack the weapons and overall game of De Heart; Rettenmaier's offensive weapon was an occasional drop shot.

Rettenmaier loves to charge the net, but in the second set De Heart was able to hit a number of passing shots by Rettenmaier as he advanced.

Rettenmaier plays like a hitting partner, just gets the ball back over. One would think that would work at the municipal courts but not in the professional ranks. But it has served him well so far in the tournament and in the final.

Rettenmaier went ahead 6-5 in the second. De Heart tied it up 6-6.

In the tiebreaker, Rettenmaier imposed his will on De Heart and ran ahead 4-0. Eventually, the match ended on a telling note, an unforced error by De Heart. Rettenmaier yelled in exhilaration and relief.