Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY – Anne Copland sends a return over the head of teammate Jan Polivka during the mixed doubles championship held Monday at the Mount McIntyre tennis courts.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

WINNING FORM – Jan Polivka smashes a ball while opponent Vickie Roche looks on.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

GOOD TIMES – Kyle Marchuk smiles while returning a shot Monday evening.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

TRICKS POLIVKA – Jan Polivka completes a between-the-legs return shot.

Polivka, Copland team up to win mixed doubles title

A week after losing his grip on the men’s singles title, Tennis Yukon head coach Jan Polivka got some revenge Monday.

By Marcel Vander Wier on September 17, 2014

A week after losing his grip on the men’s singles title, Tennis Yukon head coach Jan Polivka got some revenge Monday.

Polivka teamed up with partner Anne Copland to win the mixed doubles championship – their second straight Yukon title in the division.

It wasn’t easy, but Polivka and Copland eventually beat Kyle Marchuk and his mom, Vickie Roche, 9-7 in a back-and-forth pro-set game held at the Mount McIntyre tennis courts.

The game featured plenty of highlights, including a between-the-legs return shot from Polivka as he was running backwards to track down the ball.

The trick shot was for naught however, as Marchuk smashed down Polivka’s offering for a point early in the contest.

“It was a pretty fun game,” said Polivka, 33. “Kyle and Vickie actually had a match point, but we turned it around and won.”

Their rivals were up by as much as 6-2, Polivka said, before the tide changed. In pro-set play, the first team to eight wins the match. Teams must win by two.

“We got back to 6-5, before they went up 7-5 and had match point,” Polivka explained. “It eventually went to 7-7 and you have to win by two.”

The win will see Polivka and Copland’s names engraved onto the trophy yet again.

Despite the loss, Marchuk remained in good spirits.

“It was super fun,” he said. “We had match point at one point, so we were one point away from the win ... I won’t go so far to say that we choked, but it happens. They played a great game and it was very closely matched.”

Marchuk and Polivka have enjoyed a friendly rivalry since 2008, when Marchuk bested the new tennis coach in the men’s singles final.

The next year, Polivka won his first of five straight titles, before losing last week in a tough battle versus Justin Halowaty.

Marchuk said a severe case of tennis elbow has hampered his play over the past few years, but he hopes to attempt a comeback at some point.

“I’m not near as good as I used to be,” the 35-year-old admitted. “My game has come down a long way from what it used to be.

“I used to be 16, 17, and could hit the ball as hard as I could and it would always go in,” Marchuk added.

“Now, I go to hit the ball as hard as I can and it goes off the back fence. It’s frustrating.”

The game marked the conclusion of the Tennis Yukon playoffs that were delayed several times by inclement weather.

The two finalists won their respective pools, going unbeaten en route to earning a berth in Monday’s championship game.

Other division winners include: Aline Halliday (women’s singles); Copland and Fleur Marsella (women’s doubles); alongside Halowaty and Kevin Patterson (men’s doubles).

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