Cristiano Caratti began play like a Sunday hacker. He committed unforced errors. He double-faulted. The wind bothered him. He was nervous. And he was irked when a pre-school child banged his feet upon a slide in a nearby tot lot.
But at the critical point in his match, the 20-year-old Italian pro Caratti said of his opponent: ”I saw his confidence fade . . .”
The unseeded Caratti went on to earn a check for $7,450 for his 7-6
(7-1), 6-1 victory over eighth-seed Chris Garner in the finals of the $50,000 Citibank pro tournament in Winnetka.
The runner-up finish was worth $4,250 for Garner, a 21-year-old Bay Shore, N.Y., pro, whose game deteriorated after he banged out an ace to hold serve and go ahead 6-5 in the first set.
”That was the turning point,” said Caratti, who held serve in the next game to square the set at 6-6. ”My confidence went up, and I saw his fade.”
Caratti repeatedly drove backhand service returns for winners as he breezed through the tiebreak with the loss of only one point, and through the second set with the loss of just one game.
In the final game, Caratti fell behind 0-40 and fought off five break points, the last two with an ace and a deft drop shot. He then ended the match with two serves than Garner could not return.
”He played well, but I didn`t play 50 percent of what I`m capabale,”
said Garner. ”I don`t understand how I got to the finals.”
Both players suffered through poorly played opening games in swirling winds at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center. Servers lost the first seven points of the match, all on unforced errors. Servers lost the first four games.
Caratti lost his concentration during his first service game when a child kicked upon a nearly slide.
”The wind was difficult; I was very nervous,” Caratti explained.
”Fortunately, I got my game together.”
In doubles, the $3,100 first place prize was split by Nenno Oosting of the Netherlands and Zeeshan Ali of India, who came back to defeat Doug Flach of St. Louis and Luis Herrara of Mexico 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The runner-up team divided $1,820.
