Match at the Park: Lefty vs. Lefty

This looks like a battle. I’m intrigued. Two tennis players giving it 100% in a 4.0 league match at Van Saun Park in Paramus, N.J..

It’s 5-5 and duece. Two consistent and intense southpaws, both looking tremendously fit and serious. Gotta sit down and watch this one.

While they are similar, they are different too. One man is wearing New Balance shoes, a white adidas shirt and hat, blue shorts with just a single head racquet, no back-up. I learn later his name is Mark Press, he is an attorney from Washington Twp. He has just one plain plastic water bottle.

The other player is named Paul McCadam, an insurance man from Mahwah. He appears much more prepared, with just about every accessory available. McCadam has a wrap on his right knee and left elbow, wears designer shades, a headband, multi-colored wrist bands, a colonial blue adidas shirt, white shorts and New Balance shoes. He has a big Wilson bag, two racquets leaning on the fence, a red water cooler, with bottles of Gatorade and Vitamin Water.

Both are very consistent from the baseline but Press is more aggressive-minded. He presses and attacks the net and McCadam, under pressure, sends his passing shot right at Press who volleys the winner easily. “I hit it right to you,” says an annoyed McCadam. Ad-in for Press. Press takes the game when his deep forehand forces McCadam to pop up a weak, high lob that plops about five feet past the net. Press pounds it for a winner. It’s 6-5 Press.

For such a hard fought, skillful and strategic tennis match, it seems wrong that I am the only witness observing the action.

Serving down 5-6, McCadam raises his intensity level. “KUHH!!,” he shrieks as he serves a winner that Press sends into the net.

McCadam serves again. He bounces the ball very slowly and deliberately – almost Djokovic like – before going into his very unorthodox motion which resembles a slow motion scythe swing. As he makes contact on the serve, he tries to add some extra power and momentum by making a sound: “Kunnah!!”

Press is able to return this time and a rally ensues. “Ayyah!” is the sound as McCadam rolls his top spin forehand with precise and delicate touch. He wants to keep it deep so Press can’t attack. McCadam hits two more, “Ay yah”, “Ay YAH”, but Press suddenly is able to strike a forehand winner, which evokes a deflated and disappointed, “Ahhh” from McCadam, as he helplessly watches it pass him. 15-all.

The intensity level of these two over-60 gladiators is as gripping as any U.S. Open match you will see. They may not have the skills or the techniques of Nadal and Djokovic, but McCadam and Press sure do have their equal desire to win.

“KUHH-IN,” again as McCadam serves to start the point. This time after a rally, Press attacks and volleys the ball right back at McCadam who hits the winning lob. It’s 30-15. Now Press expresses his emotions for the first time, with much more intensity than his opponent. “You stupid ass,” Press punishes himself as he heads back to the baseline. “Uhhhh…right back at him…damn idiot.” And then some more inaudible venting, directed at himself for the costly miss at such an important stage of the match.

McCadam again engages into a forehand to forehand rally with Press and Press misses again. 40-15 for McCadam.

Press is a clever player. He makes a tactical change. Suddenly Press returns McCadam’s serve and follows it in to the net where he knocks off the forehand volley. It’s now 40-30 for McCadam. Paul needs just one more point to reach a tiebreak.

“Whoooh,” is the noise McCadam makes as her serves. Again, Press returns the ball deep and attacks. McCadam doesn’t take the ball on the rise well and misplays this troublesome deep ball with his forehand by hitting it softly into the net. “Hit the ball harder than that,” McCadam chides himself.

Back to deuce, as Bill McAtee would say.

Press knows what he has to do now. It’s simple: Attack the net. Press has to press. He has a solid approach and good hands at the net to make winning volleys under pressure. He does it again and connects with another volley winner.

On match point, McCadam changes his failing strategy of passiveness. McCadam himself decides to attack the net but is far less comfortable there than his opponent. McCadam sails the volley long by a foot and the match is over. Mark Press defeats Paul McCadam in a classic, 61 75.

I learn later these two gladiators have been rivals for years. They once played a five-hour match, which was won by McCadam.

Both are well known and respected at Van Saun Park for their fitness and competitiveness. “You’re gonna get some audio effects when they play,” says Jim Manzo, who is playing a practice set on the next court over. “Both of those guys are incredibly fit. McCadam runs 5K’s. He played a match this year when it was really hot and had to go to the hospital after for dehydration. Press, if you could believe it, is 61.”

It was a classic finale to an excellent park match. Two hard-nosed, tennis weekend warriors, playing as hard as they could, enjoying the competition, and shaking hands when it was over. They’ll be back again next week for their next matches at the 12-court complex at Van Saun Park off Forest Ave. in Paramus, N.J.

Press vs. McCadam once played a five-hour match

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