In the singles, Jon Crowell got out to an early lead in the first until Peter Cipriano climbed back to tie it at 13 all. Crowell chose no-set and returned Cipriano’s next serve for a winner. Regaining the serve, Crowell won the next two points to take the first game 15-13. The second game was much the same with Crowell leading until he was tied at 13 all. Again, Crowell chose no set, but Cipriano was able to retain the serve and won the next two points to take the second game 15-13. In the final game, the score was tighter early on, but Crowell generally led. Cipriano tied it at 10 all, before hitting three straight aces to go up 13-10. He then took the next two points to win the Jock Soutar Singles Championship two games to one. This was the highest level racquets by two North American-born players this observer has seen in his 25-year career.
Jock Soutar finalists 2016. Peter Cipriano (L) beat Jonathan Crowell 2-1.
In the doubles, Cipriano and Crowell beat Philadelphia Fellow, Felix White, and Montreal Fellow, Jack Forman, two games to nil. The Old Radleians got off to a big early lead before stalling at 9-1. The North Americans came back and won the next 14 points to take the first game 15-9. In the second, Cipriano and Crowell led from the start and ran the score up to 14-4, but the two Fellows rallied back to bring the score to 8-14 before succumbing.
The North American duo of Peter Cipriano (2nd from right) and Jonathan Crowell (right) produced a rare win over two top English players in a finals. On the left are Felix White and Jack Forman (order unknown by editor!). Game scores 9 and 8.