So my chance at the 2013 SAP Open came to an abrupt end Monday. I signed up because the guy, Erik Wong, who I beat in my first singles tournament final the Men's 4.0 Napa Valley Tennis Classic registered.

Wong had a first-round bye at the SAP Pre-Qualifying Open and was double bageled by Shin Hayasaka who drubbed his initial opponent at the Los Gatos Racquet and Swim Club by the same scoreline. I was not awarded such luck of a bye. In fact I had the Sun striking me straight between the eyes during warmups.

Chase Grotemeyer of Marina was my adversary. I noticed in last year's draw he won his first match 6-0, 6-0. I came in hoping to get more than two games. I left feeling like I should have gotten more.

By my standards I did not play up to par. Grotemeyer came to the net on numerous occasions and instead of making him play a volley I routinely hit the ball into the middle of the net. At last during the second set I hit a lob that Chase leapt for and hit right into the top of the tape. Fortunately it fell on his side.

Not enough of those moments came in the frame as I broke back after getting broken to trail 2-1 during the second set. On my service I was broken at love rattled by Grotemeyer venturing forward yet again on the first point of the game. Instead of hitting a low ball over the net or at his teeth I clinched my jaw as I sprayed another backhand into the net for an unforced error.

I began my match winning choice of serve, return or side and chose to return. On second thought I should have chosen either the non-Sunny side or serve. Chase held easily not in the Sun. I lost the first point on my service before ripping a forehand winner by him at the net. That was the only time I hit the ball by Grotemeyer at the net. I won that game and lucked out another one later.

After getting broken for the second time during the second frame for the first time I hit behind Chase for a winner. Why I didn't hit behind him more is beyond me? Psychologically I wanted to follow my game plan, but strategically I should have done that more especially on the forehand wing.

With one set point squandered Grotemeyer hit a serve to my backhand. Three shots later on the defensive for the second time during the rally I barely reached the ball and let it ride. Before seeing it land in the neighboring court I flung my racquet 30 feet into the air. I had no intention of letting it drop like I had the match and I didn't.

Chase for the second year in a row won the opening frame of his next match before falling out of the tourney 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. I went away 6-2, 6-1 fully aware of my deficiencies and hoping for another crack at a more superior opponent and not bluffing, blinking or hesitating a bit the next time the Sun casts on me. 

Fourteen of the 15 seeds to play on Tuesday during the Round of 32 won pretty straight forward with one walkover. In fact just one of the matches went three sets with (9) William Griffith of Fresno prevailing over Nikita Matveyko of Kirkland, Washington 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. In possibly the match of the tournament a San Jose battle royale saw Hayasaka knock out (9) Cameron Klinger 7-6(3), 7-6(2).

(9) Collin Altamirano of Yuba City; (5) Boris Bakalov of Las Vegas, Nevada; (5) Brian Brogan of Los Gatos; (2) Nicholas Edlefsen of San Jose; (5) Denny Fafek of Mountain View; (4) David Hsu of San Jose; (3) Mackenzie McDonald of Piedmont and (9) Tommy Tu of Alameda booked Wednesday quarterfinal slots with Round-of-16 victories Tuesday.  

(5) Bakalov battled (2) Edlefsen and (5) Fafek faced (9) Tu during the semifinals Wednesday with Denny triumphing 6-3, 6-0. Fafek became the first of two players to qualify for the SAP Qualifying Open next week. Boris joined him later with a gutsy 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win. Best of luck to the two finalists who will next compete in the Qualifying Tournament held next week!