The annual Haverhill City Tennis Tournament began play last weekend at the John J. Lynch Memorial Courts at Winnekenni Park.
Top-seed and defending champion Ray Reed dodged rain drops and cruised into the quarter-finals with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over Walter Paul. Reed, of Amesbury, is aiming for his fourth straight and seventh overall singles crown.
Reed will next face former Central Catholic Star Joe Zucchi, who outlasted 58-year-old Winnekenni Park veteran Loi Van Nguyen, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3, in a two-hour marathon.
Zucchi, now a member of St. Anselm's Varsity team, will face a cagey veteran in Reed.
Second-seeded Ken Paul struggled but also advanced, 7-5, 7-6, (7-1), over Chilean Christian Vargas.
Paul, the 2006 champion, will meet Haverhill's Peter Lynch in the quarter finals.
Lynch, who won the title in 1990 and 1992 bounced Frank Colizzo, 6-0, 6-0, to earn his matchup with Paul.
Another quarterfinal berth was gained by Haverhill's Todd Proia, who routed Jack San Anotnio, 6-1, 6-2. He will play Timberlane No. 1 Steve Ratte, who stormed back to beat Joe Stansits, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The final quarter-final match will pit 2008 finalist Chad Belinsky and Haverhill native Justin Lupa.
Belinsky beat Joe Capeles, 6-1, 6-0, and Lupa bounced Dave Parent, 6-1, 6-1.
Belinsky and Lupa began their match with Lupa winning the first set, 7-5, before rain suspended play.
Doubles tournament will begin play Saturday. The entry deadline is Thursday, June 17, at 7 p.m. Contact Peter Lynch at 978-373-3083 or e-mail at llynch3693@msn.com
This week's schedule
Singles Quarter-finals
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.: Proia vs. Ratte
Thursday, 4:30 p.m.: Lynch vs. Paul
Thursday, 6 p.m.: Lupa vs. Belinsky
Friday, 10:00 a.m.: Reed vs. Zucchi
Singles Semifinals
Friday, 5 p.m.: Players to be determined
Singles Final
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Players to be determined
Early round results
First Round
Walter Paul def Josh Butterworth, 6-0, 6-
Joe Capeles def Fred Paris, 6-2, 6-2
Christian Vargas def David Duncan, 6-0, 6-
Jack San Antonio def Matt Karambelas, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Second Round
Ray Reed def w. Paul, 6-0, 6-2
Joe Zucchi def Loi Van Nguyen, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
Chad Belinsky def Joe Capeles, 6-1, 6-0
Justin Lupa def Dave Parent, 6-1, 6-1
Todd Proia def San Antonio, 6-1, 6-2
Steve Ratte def Joe Stansits, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Peter Lynch def Frank Colizzo, 6-0, 6-0
Ken Paul def Christian Vargas, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
