John controlled points throughout this windy match.  Don was up a break and serving at 5-4 in the first, but John won 8 of the next 9 points to take the first set.  John double faulted on his first four match points (Don had one chance to break at 5-3) but he converted on the fifth. 

John cruised through the first set with a virtual bagel after Don took the first two games, but Don stormed back in the second to even the match, including his own VB of 7 straight games.  Despite the old shoes Don ran down enough balls to draw a few overhead errors from John at net.

John controlled points today, making Don scramble to stay in points, and forcing many errors from Don (who needs new shoes).  Don nearly forced a third set, but John was not to be denied his 5 match cushion near the end of the season...

Don took the first easily after dropping the first two games, but John came back strong in the second to force a third set.  Don lost a long service game at 4-2 in which he had 5 winners - John had 6 almost winners that Don managed to barely put a packet on.  So Don wins the stat race and consolation virtual bagel while John extends his lead to 4 matches.

Don keeps his hopes of a winning season alive with this straight set win over John.  A gusty irregular wind played a factor throughout the match.  Don's drop shot was on today with several clean winners and a few forced errors.  John was lamenting that his sticky bun breakfast may not have been the best preparation for the match.

Don had the first set on his racquet but missed the shot, allowing John to come back and win the set.  Don scored a bagel in the second set but couldn't maintain the momentum.  John wins in three, despite Don winning big in the stats. 

Don makes it two in a row in this straight set win.  The first set was long (a lot of points played) and very close.  John went up a break in the first set for 4-2, but Don broke right back (there were only 2 breaks in the first set).  Don took the tiebreaker by surprising John at net to knock off winners.  John had predicted a 2 set match due to being up late the previous night, so once Don took the first set he had little trouble in the second (John had expected to win the first and roll through the second on the adrenalin boost).

Don finally stopped Johns winning streak in this vigorous match.  Don had set points in the first set but John managed to force the tiebreaker and win the set.  Don rolled over John in the second with a clean set and managed to control his shots slightly better in the third to win the match.

John stretches his lead in another late-afternoon/night match, causing Don to wonder if John has a night-vision advantage.  Don was up a break early in both sets, but John continued to hit with pace and accuracy to win in straight sets again.  Don eked out a slight edge in stats, but only because John was winning a lot of points by forcing so many errors from Don.

John makes it five in a row with his newly strung and gripped magic Ebay racquet.  The match was closer than the score indicate as Don was up 4-1 in the second set and had break points or game points in nearly every game, but John was controlling the play with heavy topspin power balls and wicked slice, eventually forcing errors from Don or hitting clean winners at net.

John played his cleanest match to date (even though he was hitting hard and channeling Sampras as net) to make it three in a row over Don.

Don ran out of gas in the third set trying to chase down John's power shots (even though Don was ahead on stats in the first set, John was controlling points and forcing many errors).  

John takes the season lead in what was a vigorous match that could easily have gone either way.  Don faired a little better in the stats, but only because John was winning a lot of points on excellent shots that weren't quire winners (i.e., Don barely got a racquet on them).

John evens the season race by squeaking out a win in the third set tiebreaker of this evening match (under the lights of the Spencer tennis center).  The match was excellent throughout (even the second set was closer than the bagel would indicate).  Don scores a consolation win of the overall stat differential, primarily on the strength of a very clean second set.  John accidentally killed a bat while serving (we decided to play a let).

Don regained a lead in the current season by winning the big points in this match.  The second set took nearly an hour, despite being shorter in games due to multiple deuce games and excellent points.  Both players had better stats in the second set, and many points ended on forced errors, but Don managed to stay in the points and control his lob and passing shots (much to John's frustration).  

John took the first set, hitting 8 winners to Don's one while errors were about equal, a net "stat differential" of +6 for John in the first set).  But Don came back to win the match with stat differentials of +14 and +12 for the the second and third sets (+20 for the match).

John came out swinging big  and hitting the lines on his way to a straight set win.  Don had plenty of chances to break, including triple break point on at least one occasion, but John played the big points well.

The numbers tell the story on this one as Don wins in straight sets for the second time this season (eighth time overall).  Don was hitting his passing shots well enough to keep John off the net, plus hitting the corners with his approach shots.  Don bricked a few overheads and should have had three or four more winners (and that many less errors).  John made some amazing gets, but too often tried to hit offensive shots from a defensive position, or simply went for the glory shot when a well placed shot would have won the point.  John is definitely feeling the pressure this season (since he's used to winning matches by a 3-1 margin).

This match was closer that in looks, as John played the big points well to fend off several instances of double and triple break point that easily would have given Don the second set if not the first.  

John won the first game, then started piling on the errors to give Don Virtual Bagel (six games in a row) in the first set.  Don Jumped up 2-0 in the second, then tweaked his back and briefly considered retiring, though it loosened up by the end of the second.  John had 4 match points on his serve (2 at 5-4 and 2 at 6-5), but Don forced the tiebreak with a sublime drop shot winner.

John reaped the benefits of Don's mild state of sleep deprivation to edge ahead 6-5 for the season.  Don showed short lived fits of steady play, even making a few decent volleys at net, but John played a cleaner match with regard to his winner to unforced error differential.

This morning match set a new record for the longest match (the third new record this season).  John went up 3-0 to start the first set, then Don won 4 in a row, eventually winning the tiebreaker after saving a set point at 5-6 and two more in the tiebreaker.   Don had chances to go up in the second set, but bricked too many volleys.  Both players were beginning to drag in the third set, but neither gave up despite long points and extremely long games (the third set took about an hour and a half).  Don saved several match points to force the tiebreaker in the third.

Don was off his game in this match from lack of sleep, while John was fresh and on top of everything, hitting deep with power. 

John jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set with monster forehand shots, but Don was able to start anticipating well enough to keep the ball in play till he could go on the offensive.  Not many winners in this match as both players were moving well enough to put a racquet on most balls. 

Don took the first set again but lost his momentum after a break to let others use the court.  Don was up a beak in the third, but John started channeling the Sampras net game to pull out the win.