(l-r): Lenny Bernheimer, Greg McArthur, James Stout, Chris Callis, Manek Mathur

Manek Mathur & Chris Callis avoided a semifinal exit coming back from 2-0 down to mount their third straight title run at the MFS Pro-Am Boston January 8-12 at the University Club of Boston.

Mathur & Callis entered the SDA Diamond draw as top seeds, boosted by improved rankings of world No. 3 and 1, respectively, this month following their Briggs Cup triumph in December. Unlike the Briggs Cup, where they didn’t drop a game, the Boston draw presented new challenges in the form of the tournament’s surprise package, Mike Ferreira & Will Hartigan.

One week after winning the inaugural Ox Ridge Open with James Bamber, Ferreira partnered up with Will Hartigan for the second time this season. After a 3-0 first round win, Ferreira & Hartigan took out four seeds Adam Bews & Bamber 15-11, 15-14, 15-12 to meet Mathur & Callis in the semis. Ferreira & Hartigan caught the top seeds off guard, shooting their way through the first two games to go up 15-13, 15-10. In the third Ferreira & Hartigan came within two points of winning the match, but Mathur & Callis salvaged the game 15-13 before pressing through the rest of the match 15-8, 15-10.

“Hats off to Mike and Will for playing some incredibly high-level doubles in the semi,” Callis said. “They couldn’t miss in the first two games! It took a massive effort to stay positive and work our way out of that 2-0 hole. We had to slow the pace down and stay incredibly disciplined. It was probably the most mentally taxing match Manek and I have played to date.”

In the bottom half of the draw, two seeds James Stout & Greg McArthur were also tested, but in the quarterfinals where they needed five games to come back from 2-1 down against Graham Bassett & Hamed Anvari. Stout & McArthur put in a better display in the semis to progress against three seeds Scott Clarke & Zac Alexander 15-11, 15-14, 15-13.

The final saw the top two seeds split the first to games before Mathur & Callis clinched the title 15-7, 10-15, 15-10, 15-9.

“This was definitely our toughest tournament since the season opener in Maryland,” Callis said. “It’s always tough to follow up an effort like that semifinal against opponents as good as Greg and James in the final. We were mentally very prepared for a battle in the finals and I think that’s what allowed us to dig deep and pull it out. Hats off to those guys for a great match.”

The world No. 1 celebrates his second straight title in Boston having won the 2019 edition with John Russell. Mathur’s name returns to the winners list for the first time since 2017 and 2016 when he won with Damien Mudge and Yvain Badan, respectively. Mathur & Callis have now won three consecutive titles in the Sleepy Hollow Open, Briggs Cup and Pro-Am Boston.

The MFS Pro-Am Boston was first held in 1992 and this year increased its prize money to a record $50,000 from $40,000 last year.

“There’s a lot of confidence that comes from winning a tournament like Boston where you’re pushed really hard like that,” Callis said. “It’s crazy how Manek’s movement is still continuing to improve since his injury. Looking forward to the back half of the season! A major thank you to all of the members and sponsors at the University Club in Boston. Len runs an incredible event and makes it easy for us players to play our best. It’s one we circle on the calendar every year.”

 

 

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