Photograph by Lamar Jacaman for Texas Student Media
Stefan Dostanic and Pierre-Yves Bailly are two friends off the court and newly crowned doubles champions as of Saturday at the Greenview Development & Majestic Realty Men’s Pro Tennis Open. On Sunday as singles finalists, they also had a common enemy: the wind.
The sixth-seeded Dostanic, above, handled the conditions better and took the singles title from his buddy with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory at the Texas Tennis Center. The M25 here in Austin is the biggest title of his ITF career, adding to the M15 he won on clay in Boca Raton, Florida, last week and a M15 title he won on a hardcourt in Lakewood, California. His ATP ranking should improve from No. 730 to about No. 630.
Dostanic, a 23-year-old from Irvine, California, said adjusting his game to the wind was the difference. “Very tough conditions today,” the USC alum said during the awards ceremony. “I don’t think either of us played our best tennis today. It was who can adapt better, make less mistakes.”
Bailly, the eighth-seeded Longhorn, visibly struggled with the wind in his first service game. Down 30-40, the Belgian purposely muffed on a serve swing to try another toss. It didn’t matter, as Dostanic raced to a 4-0 lead because he had more control of his groundstrokes while sprinkling in some volleying.
Bailly, 21, steadied his game and served at 5-1 to take the match to a third set but double-faulted on break point. He had a set point at 5-3, which Dostanic set aside with a winning volley that would become his hallmark for the rest of the match.
“Down 5-1 in the second set, I just made a conscious decision to really change my game, try to get to net as much as I can, take balls early and see how it goes,” Dostanic said. “And it paid off for me.”
Dostanic had two match points at 6-5, but two Bailly forehands forced a tiebreak. Dostanic sneaked in for a forehand volley winner to earn a minibreak on the first point. At 4-4, after each had questioned line calls, Dostanic took over with his aggressive play. He reached match point with a forehand volley and sealed the title with a backhand stab volley winner.
Dostanic earned $3,600 for the M25 singles title and split $1,550 with Bailly for winning the doubles crown. They shared a warm embrace at the net, not surprising considering that they practiced together before the final started. In the post-match ceremony, Bailly revealed that after their doubles victory on Saturday afternoon, he had taken to Dostanic to the Longhorn football game, just across the highway. Dostanic called Bailly “my boy.”
Bailly said their friendship — unlike the wind — had no negative effects on his performance.
“Today you’re just playing for yourself,” he said during the ceremony. “It really doesn’t matter who’s on the other opposite side of the court.” He also said he’s looking for the rest of his senior season at UT-Austin.
Dostanic said he looks forward to more matches like Sunday’s.
“It’s always fun to play your friends in the final,” he said. “That means you’ve both had a good week.”