Boys tennis
Binder wins consolation final
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

It wasn't exactly what he was looking for but Ari Binder ended his high school tennis career with a win.

The Amherst Central senior lost to Bryan Roberts of Section IX Commack, 4-6, 6-1, 2-6, in the first round of the New York State High School Championships on Thursday, May 31 but won all four matches in the consolation portion of the tournament to finish 17th overall.

The tournament was held May 31-June 2 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

"Not many people can say they won four rounds at a state tournament," said Binder, who won his first Section VI singles title on May 23. "I had a pretty solid tournament after the first match. I felt my game steadily improved and I was confident at the end."

Binder, seeded fifth, wanted to at least advance to the semifinals. Instead, he lost to Roberts, a player he believed he should have beaten.

"I thought I had all momentum heading into the third set, but I got pushed around a little bit too much," said Binder, who will play at Division III Williams College this coming year. "I was also missing shots I should have been making."

Motivated to go out a winner, Binder plowed through his two consolation matches on Friday, June 1, defeating Adam Shearer of Section VII's Beekmantown Central, 6-0, 6-0, and Karthik Rahasethupathy of Section V's Brockport, 6-2, 6-0. In the semifinals on Saturday, June 2, Binder defeated Mwalima Phiri of Section I's Tuckahoe, 6-3, 6-3. Later in the day, he beat Jon Raude from Cardozo of the PSAL of Section II, 7-6 (5), 3-0 (ret.) in the final.

Raude opened a quick 4-0 lead on Binder 10 minutes into the match but Binder said he relaxed, held serve to make the score 4-1 and eventually tied the set at 5-5 and went on to win. With Binder up 3-0 in the second set, Raude told Binder he was tired and didn't want to play anymore.

Binder finishes 23-1.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com