Rushmori Hard Court Swing [NSTT] - Everything Thread

[Ceni]

Schedules*
Keystone Bastion Open
Friday, May 12: Qualifying
Saturday, May 13: Round of 64 (Day 1)
Sunday, May 14: Round of 64 (Day 2)
Monday, May 15: Round of 32
Tuesday, May 16: Round of 16
Wednesday, May 17: Quarterfinals
Thursday, May 18: Semifinals
Friday, May 19: Finals

New Gelderland Open
Monday, May 22: Qualifying
Tuesday, May 23: Round of 32
Wednesday, May 24: Round of 16
Thursday, May 25: Quarterfinals
Friday, May 26: Semifinals
Saturday, May 27: Finals

Cenial Masters
Sunday, May 28: Qualifying
Monday, May 29: Round of 96
Tuesday, May 30: Round of 64
Wednesday, May 31: Round of 32
Thursday, June 1: Round of 16
Friday, June 2: Quarterfinals
Saturday, June 3: Semifinals
Sunday, June 4: Finals

*All schedules may be compressed if nobody is RPing.

Draws
Keystone Bastion Open
New Gelderland Open
Cenial Masters

[Ceni]

Keystone Bastion Open draw sheets

Singles - Main Draw

Singles - Qualifying Draw
Danjiella Zovic (NEG) vs Sally du'Ercab (TOB)
Rikard Kampl (MTJ) vs Rob Canson (TOB)

Aljaž Isaac (EFL) vs Vitoria Júlia da Silva (NTN)
Jess Philips (TOB) vs Paisley Brazzos (QAD)

Dominika Lisicki (MTJ) vs Keeley Sinai (EFL)
Sarah Johnson (TOB) vs Sabina Soca (MTJ)

Aljaz Corluka (MTJ) vs Jane Smith (TOB)
Marco Vrient (NEG) vs Rog Ion Tralito (NTN)

Alex Sanders (TOB) vs Molly Rhonic (MRC)
Márcus Gabriel Alencastro (NTN) vs Sami Dominikanov (MTJ)

Alastair Breaker (ETN) vs Maria Cláudia Amúlio (NTN)
Mihaela Ioana Prisco (NTN) vs Rasmus Milik (MRC)

Bilaal Bilclough (EFL) vs Mihai Caeso Mihailescu (NTN)
Tony Tuk (QAD) vs Jonum Korlovia (MRC)

Jaxton Monty (QAD) vs Sanja Molanovic (MTJ)
Edmund Wilkinson (ETN) vs Maria Julenic (MTJ)

Sukaina Yunan (EFL) vs Ion Victor Amúlio (NTN)
Andrea Palmannerson (MRC) vs Peter Nyckak (TOB)

Paul Chinra (TOB) vs Cassandra Séru (QAD)
Ioanna Márcia Enderssen-Moura (NTN) vs Giovanni Cadenzo (QAD)

Doubles - Main Draw

Doubles- Qualifying Draw
Alma Semmes/Marla Gerard (NEG) vs Rob Canson/Jess Philips (TOB)
Mihaela Ioana Prisco/Vitoria Júlia da Silva (NTN) vs Kara Dragovic/ Jelena Svitolina (MTJ)

Ethan Manners/Susan Ingram (ETN) vs Sarah Johnson/Jane Smith (TOB)
Tony Tuk/Paisley Brazzos (QAD) vs Jonum Korlovia/Johanna Korlovia (MRC)

Blair Forest/Donny Knight (QAD) vs Túlius Tarquínio da Silva/Ápio Rog dos Santos (NTN)
Iohanna Márcia Enderssen-Moura/Maria Cláudia Amúlio (NTN) vs Felice Mareaux/Danjiella Zovic (NEG)

Newton Gray/Thomas Greene (ETN) vs Sally du'Ercab/Peter Nyckak (TOB)
Yves Whitz/Franklin Polymar (QAD) vs Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin (MRC)

Rayford Wise/Dhaakir Prieto (EFL) vs Márcus Gabriel Alencastro/Mihai Caeso Mihailescu (NTN)
Sabina Soca/ Dominik Augsbirjke (MTJ) vs Mattias Doerwald/Thierry Garzala (NEG)

Terry Rèben/Icy Mellows (QAD) vs Paul Chinra/Alex Sanders (TOB)
Marco Vrient/Dominic Ripaldi (NEG) vs Fabiano Bishop/Sebas Hariri (EFL)

[Qasden]

Qasden
Athletic News
Qad Tennis prepares for comeback in Bastion

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5 months have past and already 6 tournaments have been contested. Despite initial surges at the Astyrian Series, including both Ty Kanelious and a doubles team reaching the finals at Paradise City, the other 5 have been nothing but distraught and agony. At the Astyrian Slam, contested in Nikolia, the surplus of Qads managed to all fall within just 3 rounds into the 128-player tournament.

Following Nikolian failure, a recent manifest has been spreading rapidly across the country. With the UnderVans defeated by the hands of McCann, and the beach cup containing Islana Lunigo, local bars and pubs are scheduling their televisions to display the next few tennis tournaments. Kanelious, DiGaldi, Poniac, and the entirety of Qad Tennis' professional athletes will be traveling from the West Astyria to the Rushmori subregion of Terranea, the third most famed subregion of the big three (falling just behind Calania and Glorious Southwest of Atlantian Oceania). Here, the Vans will compete in three lower tier tournaments before taking on the ever-so powerful Cenian Slam, the second of the big 4 NSTT slams.

As said, before we go have fun at the next big dance, TQ will attempt to foster even more points at the 3 tournaments that make up the Rushmori Swing. First up, a journey to the rank-loving capital of Bastion, Eura, for the T1M Keystone Bastion Open. While the Euran government are having "minor" conflicts with neighboring Electrum and Sameba, the glorious metropolis that is Bastion has stabilized itself a bit more around its premiere tennis courts. Here, 8 singles and 4 doubles will take on the task of breaking Qasden's curse and win a tournament. Joining the originals include newbloods Cassandra Séru and Giovanni Cadenzo, who are conveniently drawn close together.

Speaking of which, earlier today the NSTT body released the draws for KBO's singles and doubles tournaments. Starting with the singles, the big 3 of Qad Tennis: Halaeo, Ty, and Feyrord, were automatically admitted into the tournament's proper, which will pit the entire trio against a trio of New Gelderland's finest right away. As for the rest, the quirky Paisley Brazzos has been set against Jess Philips of Tobiasia in the first round of qualifiers. Philips is a rather lesser-known foe from the pine tree nation. Meanwhile, Paisley's latest successes has projected her favorable for the match. Afterwards, the winner will battle the victor of Isaac/Silva in the second round with the overall winner advancing to the proper.

Next up, Tony Tuk and Jaxton Monty, two of the finest mid-major players who've been around since Qasden's debut in Centralis. Also known as Tik Tuk, Tony's draw features a watering matchup against Mercedini's Jonum Korlovia, with the winner taking on Bilclough/Mihailescu for it all. Korlovia is another mid-major, who plays just a lil under the standards of Mei Jokek and Cracik Almenerovic. Prediction? A near Korlovian win in extended sets. Monty, on the other hand, also has a fair opponent to play. Mattijana's Sanja Molanovic will play the role as Jaxton's adversary, with one of the two moving on to play Wilkinson/Julenic. Both Sanja and Jaxton have had their good days and their bad, but if one had to be chosen, Monty may certainly have an upper hand on this game, therefore our prediction is Qad victory.

Lastly of the singles army would be the newbies known as Giovanni Cadenzo and Cassandra Séru. As foreshadowed earlier, the duo were drawn into the same qualifying group, meaning a 25% possibility of a QadVQad showdown for the proper. Sérum has been matched up with Paul Chinra, probably the most notable player from Tobiasia. Chinra will indeed be a hard opponent for such a rookie, and therefore makes the QQ 25% chance very slim compared to the 50% chance he wins. Cadenzo doesn't have it as easy, either, with his first game being against Ioanna Márcia Enderssen-Moura of Natanians and Nosts. N&N has been regenerating their tennis team, but is not quite up to speed, giving Giovanni a larger outcome of victory than that of Cass. Our prediction, Cadenzo and Chinra will face off in the final qualifier, with Paul narrowly clinching the top spot.

Now onto the doubles. Unlike the big 3, all 4 doubles teams will have to face the wrath of the qualifiers before even dreaming of reaching KBO's main stage. Tony Tuk and Paisley Brazzos, the only two of Qasden's Bastion delegation to play in both tournaments, will team up as they battle the Korlovia siblings from Mercedini. Again, Jonum and Johanna have the upper hand here, being way more experienced in the doubles despite the seniority of Tuk and Brazzos. While the winner plays the winner of Semmes/Gerard/Canson/Philips, its sad to say that the Korlovias will best TQ yet again.

Next are the dramatic duos known as Blair Forest/Donny Knight and Franklin Polymar/Yves Whitz. Blair and Donny have been drawn into a very wordy situation, as the two start the season against Túlius Tarquínio da Silva and Ápio Rog dos Santos of Natanians and Nosts. Again, these Qads have a fairer experience of play, which therefore makes our prediction being Forest/Knight advancing to play either Enderssen-amours/Amúlio or Mareaux/Zovic for a spot in the proper. Whitz and Polymar are the next selected players for Mercedinians, as they square off first with Patrick Sintarnov and Harry Rymin. Safely, this sounds like a narrow and critical win for the Vans, but defeat cannot be surprised. The winner will face Gray/Greene or du'Ercab/Nyckak in the next round.

Finally, we have the super sisters whom are Terry Rèben and Icy Mellows. The team are among the most known in Central Azeuria, and will get the honors of facing the two most notable faces of Tobiasia, Paul Chinra and Alex Sanders. A difficult opponent indeed, but in the end, the Blue-Reds may actually punch their tickets to the second round against Vrient/Ripaldi or Bishop/Hariri.

That's all for this preview. Will the Vans perform beyond our wildest projections? Can they keep themselves from wailing out again? Don't miss another match, so stay tuned, stay updated, and stay sitting for our next report, traveling wide and live from the Keystone Bastion Open of Eura!

[Ceni]

Results incoming.

Bastion - Singles - Qualifying Round 1

Danjiella Zovic (NEG)                   6   6
Sally du'Ercab (TOB)                    2   2

Rikard Kampl (MTJ)                      6   6
Rob Canson (TOB)                        3   3

Aljaž Isaac (EFL)                       7   6
Vitoria Júlia da Silva (NTN)            5   4

Jess Philips (TOB)                      3   1
Paisley Brazzos (QAD)                   6   6

Dominika Lisicki (MTJ)                  6   6
Keeley Sinai (EFL)                      2   3

Sarah Johnson (TOB)                     3   6   4
Sabina Soca (MTJ)                       6   4   6

Aljaz Corluka (MTJ)                     4   6   4
Jane Smith (TOB)                        6   4   6

Marco Vrient (NEG)                      4   6   5
Rog Ion Tralito (NTN)                   6   2   7

Alex Sanders (TOB)                      6   6
Molly Rhonic (MRC)                      3   1

Márcus Gabriel Alencastro (NTN)         5   2
Sami Dominikanov (MTJ)                  7   6

Alastair Breaker (ETN)                  6   6   2
Maria Cláudia Amúlio (NTN)              7   1   6

Mihaela Ioana Prisco (NTN)              6   2   6
Rasmus Milik (MRC)                      2   6   4

Bilaal Bilclough (EFL)                  6   6   6
Mihai Caeso Mihailescu (NTN)            7   2   2

Tony Tuk (QAD)                          6   6
Jonum Korlovia (MRC)                    3   3

Jaxton Monty (QAD)                      6   6
Sanja Molanovic (MTJ)                   4   1

Edmund Wilkinson (ETN)                  6   6
Maria Julenic (MTJ)                     1   4

Sukaina Yunan (EFL)                     6   6
Ion Victor Amúlio (NTN)                 2   1

Andrea Palmannerson (MRC)               6   3   7
Peter Nyckak (TOB)                      1   6   5

Paul Chinra (TOB)                       6   0
Cassandra Séru (QAD)                    7   6

Ioanna Márcia Enderssen-Moura (NTN)     4   5
Giovanni Cadenzo (QAD)                  6   7

Bastion - Doubles - Qualifying Round 1

Alma Semmes/Marla Gerard (NEG)                                6   6
Rob Canson/Jess Philips (TOB)                                 4   3

Mihaela Ioana Prisco/Vitoria Júlia da Silva (NTN)             2   6
Kara Dragovic/ Jelena Svitolina (MTJ)                         6   7

Ethan Manners/Susan Ingram (ETN)                              6   6  11
Sarah Johnson/Jane Smith (TOB)                                2   7   9

Tony Tuk/Paisley Brazzos (QAD)                                5   6  11
Jonum Korlovia/Johanna Korlovia (MRC)                         7   3   9

Blair Forest/Donny Knight (QAD)                               6   6
Túlius Tarquínio da Silva/Ápio Rog dos Santo (NTN)            0   2

Iohanna Márcia Enderssen-Moura/Maria Cláudia Amúlio (NTN)     2   6   9
Felice Mareaux/Danjiella Zovic (NEG)                          6   4  11

Newton Gray/Thomas Greene (ETN)                               7   6  10
Sally du'Ercab/Peter Nyckak (TOB)                             5   7   7

Yves Whitz/Franklin Polymar (QAD)                             3   6  10
Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin (MRC)                           6   4   6

Rayford Wise/Dhaakir Prieto (EFL)                             6   2  10
Márcus Gabriel Alencastro/Mihai Caeso Mihailescu (NTN)        3   6   3

Sabina Soca/ Dominik Augsbirjke (MTJ)                         2   3
Mattias Doerwald/Thierry Garzala (NEG)                        6   6

Terry Rèben/Icy Mellows (QAD)                                 7   6
Paul Chinra/Alex Sanders (TOB)                                5   1

Marco Vrient/Dominic Ripaldi (NEG)                            4   6  10
Fabiano Bishop/Sebas Hariri (EFL)                             6   1   8

[Qasden]

Qasden
Athletic News
We Struck Oil!!!

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This is perhaps one of the greatest moments in Qad Tennis history!

Travelling from Atlantian Oceania to Astyria, then to Rushmore, the Vans' Tennis squad has arrived in the Terranean subregion with high hopes to make a splash in one of the next 5 tournaments taking place there, of which include 2 of the 4 grand slams. Starting off in Bastion, Eura, and one round of qualifiers in, the Qads have already made a huge wave of surgence back into the realm of tennis.

First, the singles event. For many, it is one of the most grueling tasks to tackle a 4-man bracket before even entering the general proper, which itself is an even bigger challenge to tackle. While TQ's big 3 are set to face New Gelderland's finest in the first round of propers, the other 5 had to battle at most 2 foes before even thinking about their proper first rounds against big names not already in the second round.

Paisley Brazzos was benevolently the first to go for TQ, matched against Tobiasia's Jess Philips, Brazzos finally found her nirvana, surging from a 2-2 game to win the first set 6 matches to 3. In the second set, Paisley's determination and Jess's slowing motivation played well together, as the Qad smashed Philips into the ground by a score of 6-1. The win will send the lucky lady to face Eastfield Lodge's Aljaž Isaac, who himself tackled a strong armed Silva in two long games. Seeing the cards are at the right places, our prediction for this proper-qualifier has the Miss winning the group.

The next big two, Tony Tuk and Jaxton Monty, also fared well. Tik Tuk faced a first-glance intimidating Jonum Korlovia in the first round of preliminaries. Like the Brazzos/Philips game, the Qad/Mercedinian battle started off slow. Back and forth the ball went, back and forth did the score go, back and forth did the advantage play. At 3-3, An immediate uprising from Tuk ultimately surprised Korlovia, with 3 back-to-back-to-back match wins, taking the first set, 6-3. In the second set, Jonum competed to Tony's score at a ratio of 1:2, meaning by the time the Mercy wins a match, Tik has already gained two on him. In the end, another 6-3 win stuns Mercedinian Tennis and punches another Qad's ticket to the second preliminary. Here Tony Tuk will face Bilaal Bilclough, an Eastfielder who finished Natanians' Mihailescu with pizazz in three sets. Though this lil batch of toffee does seem to have a kick in it, it's safe to say that Tuk could be on a roll here. As for Monty, a Sanja Molanovic awaited his slick departure. Monty disagreed, and with that, sparked a beautiful one-sided hatred between the two. The first set of games was intensely close, narrowly breaching the double digit mark. Fortunately, a small racket failure pushes Monty over the equilibrium, taking the set 6-4. The second set only got better for the Vans, as he brutally demolished Molanovic by a score of 6-1, earning a third Qad's right into the second prelim. His next opponent will be the Ethanian, Edmund Wilkinson, whom of which also handled a Mattijanan in 2 sets. The first of the night, out prediction feels the need to vote Edmund in, as Jaxton may play a cocky game.

Last of our singles are the insanely quirky new bloods, Cassandra Séru and Giovanni Cadenzo. Cassandra was tasked a difficult opponent, being Paul Chinra, the top player of Tobiasian Tennis. A few games turned into several before any clear break could be made. 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5, it just went on that slowly. 13 games in, a final swing by Séru pushed her over the needed criteria for the first set, winning 7-6. The second set, however, was not close at all. An ultimate battering of balls hitting every ground of the court. Serve after serve after serve, it was relentless. 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, it just wouldn't stop. Finally, the 6-0 limit struck, and the game was over...with Séru on top. For Giovanni Cadenzo, an ambitious Ionna Márcia Endersson-Moura from the wordy nation of Natanians and Nosts. For Cadenzo, the match had already began challenging, as Endersson-Moura salmoned to a 2-0 lead. Soon it re-equalized, then divided, then re-equalized again and again, before an eventual push was made by Giovanni, earning him set 1. That lead almost immediately set off a fiery flame inside Ionna, as she began drilling balls halfway across the court from where scrawny Cadenzo stood. But Gio didn't just stand there and take it, oh no. He retaliated with zazzle. Soon his upbringing took the game to a pivotal 12th game. 15-<3, 30-<3, 30-15, 30-30, 45-30, Deuce, Adv-45, Deuce, 60-Adv, Deuce, Adv-75, GAME OVER. And just like that, Séru-Cadenzo becomes a reality. No matter what, at least one Qad will go home from the singles, and by the looks of it, that loser will not be Séru, after seeing her staggering performance over a stargazed Chinra.

Returning to the field was Tony Tuk and Paisley Brazzos, who's passionate luck in the singles was to be re-challenged by the Mercedinians, Jonum and Johanna Korlovia to be exact. Right off the bat, the Korlovias were relentless. While Tukzos fought their strength as hard as they could, it just wasn't enough, handing Qasden their first set loss of the tournament, at 7-5. But to many's surprise, the duo took that loss and mended it to their strength in the next round pounding the Mercedinians 6-3 and making their previous win seem like old news. Now 1-1, the set reaches its third phase that'll determine the show's winner for sure. Again the back-and-forth method began to apply, which stretched as long as 20 games before finally being settled 11-9. Who might that 11 be, you ask? Well, miraculously, its Tukzos. A crazy final play sent them over the Korlovias and into round 2, Where they'll face Ethan Manners and Susan Ingram for the spot in the proper.

Next we have Blair Forest, Donny Knight, Franklin Polymar, and Yves Whitz. Forest and Knight began their Rushmori season in Bastion against Natanians' Silva/Santo team. The duo, a once threatening adversary group in the singles, apparently acted nothing more than a punching bag in this matchup. In the first set, perrenial dominance brought by Foright clamped Silto for the 6 games the set lasted. While some did result in as high as a triple deuce, Blair and Donny still managed to pull away for the chips. The second set lasted a bit longer, with Túlius and Ápio winning two games in 4 before getting hammered by Foright. Quickly, the match and set ended 6-2, permitting the Qasdonian duo a meetup with New Engollon's Felice Mareaux and Danjiella Zovic for a shot at the peppers of KBO. For Yves Whitz and Franklin Polymar, things were a little more complicated. Facing a merciless Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin team, Whitymar almost consistently contested dilemmas against Sintarmin. Right off the bat, a 1:2 ratio win:loss spat out any chances the two were to win the first set, with the Mercedinians taking it 6-3. The second set showed a much better fight from Franklin and Yves, and soon they paralleled with Patrick and Harry, standing at 4-4 before winning two more games to take the set. Now, the main attraction. In set 3, the quadro went back and forth again and again in the game' she status. 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6, again the game sprawled past the regulation. Polymer and Whitz were the first to hit 7, but the ref didn't let the game end. 8-6 now, still going. 9-6, the overkill is surmounting by the serve. Finally, at 10 games to 6, the game was called and the Mercedinians were traumatized beyond beliefs. Franklin and Yves, thanks to the overkill, now sit high and strong as they face Ethane's Newton Gray and Thomas Greene, whom narrowly escaped a Tobiasian team in three sets.

Finally, we arrive at Terry Rében and Icy Mellows. Possibly the most notable doubles team in Qad Tennis, Rébellows were pitted against yet another Tobiasian chart topper. The defeated Paul Chinra was now equipped with Alex Sanders, the second best player of Tobiasia at the moment, and seemed itching for an upset (At least for Paul, as a loss would result in his early exit from Eura completely entirely). The first set saw some form of challenge between the two teams, as Chinranders heaved a heavy curse of 45-15s against Rébellows over a strong duration of the set. Twelfth game, 45-30, Terry death blows the ball right past Alex Sanders to take the first set under the Blue and Red. Proceeding was a series of murmurs regarding the Tobiasians to make a mass surge. However, what happened was the utterly complete contrary. While they did win the second game, temporarily equalizing the set, the attack of 60-30s threw Chrinranders into a sticky 1-5 situation. The last game came to a halting deuce that carried on throughout five more turns, before eventually being claimed by the Qads, sealing a smashing 6-1 win over Chinra and Sanders and, more importantly, the greatest revenge of the Tobiasian Country Cup ever. With that under their belts now, Terry and Icy will be going into tomorrow's game favored against New Engollon's Marco Vrient and Dominic Ripaldi, whom squeaked past Eastfield's Bishop/Hariri team.

The new insurgence of Qad Tennis in just the first round has sent shockwaves and reminders to everyone multiversal, telling them who the real top underdogs were. Ty Kanelious even gave his share on today's accomplishment.

"Seeing all 5 singles and all 4 doubles of our country is, it's really quite awesome, to be honest. The biggest surprise for me, in a good way, was seeing Cassie smash Paul Chinra on just two sets. That's not something that can be done easily, especially for someone new to NSTT like her. Entering this next round, I hope to see a lot of power and lithe spirit out tangere on the courts before propers begin. This may actually be Qasden's year for once.".

Could the Vans be able to book as much as 8 more spots into the proper tournament? Will fate favor Ethane, Eastfield Lodge, and New Engollon more and subtract the numbers quickly? Can anyone open to fabled openless pickle jar? Only one float isn't flat, so stay tuned, stay updated, and stay beached for our next report, surfacing from the Keystone Bastion Open in Bastion, Eura!

[Ceni]

Bastion - Singles - Qualifying Round 2

Danjiella Zovic (NEG)          7   6
Rikard Kampl (MTJ)             5   1

Aljaž Isaac (EFL)              2   1
Paisley Brazzos (QAD)          6   6

Dominika Lisicki (MTJ)         7   6
Sabina Soca (MTJ)              6   1

Jane Smith (TOB)               6   3
Rog Ion Tralito (NTN)          7   6

Alex Sanders (TOB)             6   6   6
Sami Dominikanov (MTJ)         1   7   2

Maria Cláudia Amúlio (NTN)     3   1
Mihaela Ioana Prisco (NTN)     6   6

Bilaal Bilclough (EFL)         3   0
Tony Tuk (QAD)                 6   6

Jaxton Monty (QAD)             6   3   6
Edmund Wilkinson (ETN)         2   6   2

Sukaina Yunan (EFL)            6   3   4
Andrea Palmannerson (MRC)      4   6   6

Cassandra Séru (QAD)           6   3   4
Giovanni Cadenzo (QAD)         3   6   6

Bastion - Doubles - Qualifying Round 2

Alma Semmes/Marla Gerard (NEG)             6   3  10
Kara Dragovic/ Jelena Svitolina (MTJ)      0   6   5

Ethan Manners/Susan Ingram (ETN)           3   1
Tony Tuk/Paisley Brazzos (QAD)             6   6

Blair Forest/Donny Knight (QAD)            6   7
Felice Mareaux/Danjiella Zovic (NEG)       1   6

Newton Gray/Thomas Greene (ETN)            3   5
Yves Whitz/Franklin Polymar (QAD)          6   7

Rayford Wise/Dhaakir Prieto (EFL)          4   6   4
Mattias Doerwald/Thierry Garzala (NEG)     6   2  10

Terry Rèben/Icy Mellows (QAD)              6   7
Marco Vrient/Dominic Ripaldi (NEG)         3   6

[Mercedini]

About Zoloroni Sports City
@ Zoloroni Sports City Stadium - Zoloroni, Mercedini

Zoloroni Sports City is quite arguably the pinnacle of Mercedinian sport, hosting many of the national teams aswell as the capability of hosting many of the multiverse’s biggest sporting tournaments. The Sports City is seen by many as a representation of Mercedini’s prosperous reputation with plenty of public and private investment going into the facilities which are proving to be money well spent as Mercedini are improving their position financially and politically, with the blue and black nation coming through as a reliable host for the multiverse’s biggest tournament. While the Sports City is still mostly under construction with the operators still willing and able to expand their itinerary to other sports. However, many of Mercedini’s key sports such as tennis, hockey and association football all have stadia in the Sports City meaning they can hone in on their craft while having an strong and stable home in the nation’s capital. So, with the World Cup and many other tournaments kicking off soon and we have an increasing amount of foreign readers who may not know what the Sports City is, we thought we would give you a guide what is in and around Sports City and a brief description of its purpose and it’s place in Mercedinian sport.

Zoloroni Sports City Stadium

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Undoubtedly the most recognisable piece of infrastructure to Mercedinian and international sports fans. It is the main player when it comes to hosting some of the multiverse’s largest tournaments, including the most recent Baptism of Fire and Independent’s Cup. The stadium was built in early 2016 for approximately ¥220,000,000 in time for Mercedini big step on the international stage at World Cup 75 and has been the home for the Mercedinian National Football team ever since. It seats approximately 60,000 people across three tiers with about a quarter of that being allocated for visiting fans, whether that is for domestic or national purposes. Zoloroni City FC moved in for the inaugural season of the MPL which means that the stadium is used a lot more than before and gives Zoloroni Sports City a steady flow of sports fans entering its premises when Mercedini isn’t hosting large scale sporting tournaments. For the future, there are plans to give the Sports City Stadium a roof which means that inconvenient weather will not affect the action going on inside the stadium. The Sports City Stadium could be the focus of many international tournaments in future years which is why the investment has been put into the infrastructure to ensure Mercedini can increase its sporting influence, but also feel the economic benefits and increase its diplomatic clout on the world stage.

Zoloroni Sports City Youth Academy

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As Mercedini were planning on sticking round on the international stage for a while, plans were brought forward to create a Sports City Academy neighbouring the stadia which had been completed prior to the 75th World Cup. A monumental installation with eight halls consisting of football and hockey arenas, training pitches and conference halls where the nation’s best talent can come and train to become the nation’s next superstar. While the ¥120,000,000 price tag may seem hefty for a youth academy, the developments in youth talent within Mercedini has meant much of that money has been recouped via either prize money from youth tournaments such as the U21 Di Bradini Cup and the U18 Sporting World Cup. Mercedini has seen significant advances where the Golden Eaglets have been present in consecutive knockout phases at the Di Bradini Cup and recently finished third at the most recent Sporting World Cup in Osarius. Another way that the ZSC Youth Academy is making money is through the series of clubs they run which are present in the sports of Football and Hockey. Transfers are considered gold dust to the academy as it brings in large chunks of money thanks to transfer fees and competition prize money. Despite their football club holding their own in the lower tiers of the Mercedinian Football League, their most successful club is the one that competes in Hockey as the team recently fought in the Hockey Champions League, where the club picked up some serious dough to fuel their upward trajectory. The club success and finances are symbiotic in Mercedini’s number one source of youth talent, meaning the Youth Academy and, more generally, Mercedinian sport can continue to prosper.

Cortex Centre

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The Cortex Centre might be the most familiar installation to the Sports City to tennis fans, hosting Mercedini’s first international competition as well as doubling up as a Centre of Excellence & Development for any budding Mercedinian who wants to take up the sport. The state of the art facilities which includes 22 courts and training facilities cost about ¥75,000,000 with about half of that being recouped when the Cortex Centre hosted the Mercedinian Open for the first time. While Centre Court and courts 1 through 5 are closed to the public outside major tournaments; tennis clubs, domestic federations and the general public can rent or turn up to open days where they can practice their serves and ground strokes on the courts in Zoloroni. While the opportunity for diversifying into uses for other sports is limited, Mercedini are making great developments in the tennis community which means the Cortex Centre is already worth its price tag and is even running a surplus thanks to the high usage from the public and from other official bodies since Mercedini's recent wins on the international stage. There are plans for another Mercedinian Open later in the year which will no doubt follow up on the success that engulfed the nation during the last year's edition. We look forward to welcoming some of the multiverse’s best tennis players once again which will see all 22 courts packed to the rafters for another successful tournament within Mercedini’s borders.

MRC.CUBE

---

The MRC.CUBE is the most recent edition to the Sports City skyline with this indoor multi-purpose stadium being the home for many different sporting events within Mercedini. Since it has been built, it hasn’t hosted an international tournament just yet but was part of the failed bid which would have seen the NSTT World Tour Finals travel to Zoloroni at the end of last year. The 13,000 all-seater stadium will likely be well used in the future with the potential for many indoor sports to be hosted within its walls, meaning nations of the multiverse's more niche sports may become more familiar of the features and design of the arena. It’s ¥15,000,000 is dwarfed by the other installations in Zoloroni Sports City but that doesn’t make it any less useful to those athletes who have used its facilities in many domestic sports finals. Currently, it’s main use is to house the Zoloroni City Icers, currently playing first-tier Ice Hockey in the Mercedinian Super League. While that may be temporary situation due to the Icers looking to move into a planned Ice Hockey stadium in the Sports City, it has shown that the MRC.CUBE can host domestic and international sporting competitions including the aforementioned Mercedinian Super League as well as matches in the Hockey Champions' League. It could be the focus of many international competition in the future. So, watch this space!

---

There we have it. While the Sports City may still be in development with many installations still in the planning and development stage. It has been a key economic hub for the nation’s capital which has seen plenty of domestic and international investment move into the city which means Mercedini can increase its sporting and diplomatic clout on the international stage which can only be good for its economic and political prospects.

[Ethane]

An Impure Angel - (Part 1)

I was sat at the table, waiting for her to arrive. Any minute. She had told me earlier to meet her here - in the 'purple room' as we call it - so we could work on our History project together. It had been about 15 minutes since I had sat down at the empty table, and I was beginning to get impatient. However, I knew what the traffic was like at this time of morning and considering she regularly caught the bus into Sixth Form, I could understand why she may be so late.

'Jasmine!', a voice cried out from the door. I immediately recognised it as my friend's voice and turned to look at her. She was standing at the door, a wide grin plastered on her face and her dark blue eyes pointed towards me. I stood up and walked over to her, embracing my friend in a large bear hug.

'Are you ready to start on our project?' she asked, her grin faltering slightly. Sixth Form was a pain to be honest, the amount of homework we had to do, and I sympathised with her lack of motivation to complete this project; I didn't want to do this either. I sighed, a frown forming on my lips.

'Yeah. I guess so.' I moaned, taking the 50-page pack out of my rucksack. It was practically weightlifting.

'How long do we have to complete this?' I asked Sarah, who had become distracted by a human of the male gender while I had been fetching the pack out of my bag. I glanced over at the guy she was looking at shyly. He was sat at the table in the far corner of the room, smirking at us. I hated guys who did that. It just riles my nerves, the way guys think they can pretend women are toys. I knew that was what he wanted; Thomas had a reputation for being a fuckboy. I flipped the bird at him and turned away in disgust. He just smirked more as I sat down at the table, wanting to get on with the work.

'Er - let me check,' Sarah replied, grabbing her diary out of her bag, no longer distracted by the obnoxious guy. '2 weeks'. She grabbed her project folder out of her bag as well and placed it on the table in front of her, opening it to the section for the History project. She had a folder. My friend was always much more organised than me; I was often just a mess when it came to making sure my work was all neat and tidy, hence why she always seemed to get better grades than me at everything.

We both turned to the front page of our packs and started reading and talking about the source material. The section we had to read was about ten pages, and contained a number of sources which we had to analyse using the information provided to us in the pack plus any further research. That was just the first part of the pack. It seemed laborious and needing more effort than I really wanted to have to put in; at this stage I had almost given up on all my life chances.

[Ceni]

Bastion - Singles - Round of 64

Bradyn Burn (EFL)                  7   1   5
Tony Tuk (QAD)                     6   6   7

Liam Penderyn (NGD)                7   6
Dominika Lisicki (MTJ)             6   3

Halaeo DiGaldi (QAD)               6   6
Harry Blackwood (NGD)              2   2

Melissa Herbert (NGD)              7   3   7
Estela Fenton-Millington (EFL)     6   6   5

Neia Dovan (CEN)                   3   7   6
Thierry Garzala (NEG)              6   6   4

Paisley Brazzos (QAD)              6   6
Phil Breen (EUR)                   4   0

Cracik Almeronovic (MRC)           6   6
Giorgio Irani (EFL)                2   2

Stephanie Brown (NGD)              3   6   6
Rog Ion Tralito (NTN)              6   4   2

Marisa Maradona (CEN)              6   2   6
Mei Jokek (MRC)                    4   6   1

Dan Kilbane (EUR)                  5   3
Laura Roshik (MRC)                 7   6

Mattias Doerwald (NEG)             6   6
Mattias Burges (MTJ)               1   2

Danjiella Zovic (NEG)              6   1   4
Hollie Gratton (ETN)               3   6   6

[Natanians and Nosts]

Rog Ion Tralito was eliminated at the round of 64.Playing at the Keystone Bastion Open,he lost to Stephanie Brown by 2x1.
At the first set he won the three first games,but Stephanie won the fourth game and made a perfect fifth.Then Rog Ion Tralito won his fourth game hardly,after Stephanie Brown had 20 advantages,after the last deuce he scored at an incredible smash!His fifth game was easier,he won it by game-15,at the eighth game overall,Stephanie Brown surprised him again when she won her third game bya good margin.The last game was won after three lost match-point opportunities for Rog Ion Tralito,when he defeated her.
The second set was dominated by Stephanie Brown,who won the first four games.Rog Ion Tralito won the next two games.Stephanie Brown won one more games,but Rog Ion Tralito won perfectly one game and needed only one advantage to win the next,but Stephanie Brown won one more game and finished the set,tying the match.The third set was a shame for him,after winning the first two games and giving her hard times at the third,he basicallyy stopped playing the rest of the match,leading to the victory of Stephanie Brown.
Mihaela Ioana Prisco will face Nico Angelo from Ethane and she is the only player from Natanians and Nosts at the Keystone Bastion Open,if she loses Natanians and Nosts will be eliminated.

[Vers-Gelderland]

Southgate/Elliott on a Tear on Clay

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5/15/2017 - Vyri Arcaina, chief correspondent

Mark Southgate and Megan Elliott of New Gelderland entered the NationStates Tennis Tour with an Olympic Gold medal in mixed doubles - yet experienced a tough transition to the NSTT circuit, losing to some of the circuit's top pros who don't play in the Olympics. However, it seems that this team has finally found their groove on the professional tour, as they've found quite a lot of success in the Astyrian Series of clay court tournaments, with four titles culminating in a Grand Slam championship and a world ranking of #5 - well within the top 10, and after less than a year on tour. What an impact they've made - and it started only at the beginning of this year, so let's examine it and dig deeper into their monumental accomplishments.

Their improbable run started at the Cadenzan Clay Court Championships, where the team reached the semifinals. They started off in the first round defeating #3 seeds and 2-time Grand Slam champions Leo Garry and Elizabeth Quehall of Britonisea, bageling the team in the first set before seeing the Britonish respond by winning the second set tiebreak 7-6. A dominating presence in the match tiebreak, however, saw them win the match in three sets. They swept over Serbian qualifiers Marisa Celeste Frieri and Gisela Stefanovic, who weren't really focusing on the doubles anyhow, before losing in a tight three sets to #1 seeds and eventual champions, youngsters Val Korekal and Jac Iegis, after taking the first set in the tiebreak; despite their disappointment, they nonetheless won 110 points and valuable prize money.

The team then started off the really amazing part of their run in the Antillia Masters, where, despite their performance in Cadenza, they had to go through qualifying to even get to the main draw, where they faced a tough test in the Qads Franklin Polymar and Yves Whitz. It was a long, grueling slog, but the Gelderlanders prevailed in three. They next had to face sixteenth seeds Dioro Hansil, a serve-and-volleyer, and Lonus Varalin, a baseliner, who made a complementary pairing; the Cenians fell by the wayside, although not without a fight; the teams traded the first two sets 6-4, and the Cenians held a match point in the third, only for the Gelderlish team to save it and break back to win in extra games in the third, 7-5. They next faced third seeds Coosal Darlcheri and Gyrachor Rentos, also Cenians, who played with the traditional men's doubles serve-volley mindset, but the Gelderlanders' incisive returns and angled passing shots saw them through in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. They next faced compatriots, 12th seeds Andrew Lamar and Jack Algernon, who had enjoyed earlier success on the doubles circuit, in the quarterfinals and defeated them in a tight three sets after conceding the first in a tiebreak, as usual. In the semifinals, they faced #1 seeds and multiple Grand Slam champions Elia and Fia Xal but dismissed them easily as the Xals seemed like they weren't hitting the mark, as the Gelderlanders proceeded on 6-2, 6-4. In the final, they faced 7th seeds Will Nolovor and Kell Korden; after conceding the first set in a blowout 6-1, perhaps due to the fatigue of playing multiple three-setters on clay, they showed no signs of fatigue in the second and third and resumed their mix of skillful angled shots and volleys to win the match, and the title, after having to come through qualifying.

Despite that victory, they came to Albergaria and the BCA Albergaria Open, one of the more prestigious Tier 2 tournaments, unseeded, but managed to play Eastfield Lodge qualifiers Phoebe Harvey and Berat Latif, swatting them aside 6-4, 6-2. Mans Zowzer and Timmy Yukon, qualifiers from Qasden, gave the team a little more trouble; they took the first set 7-5, and almost took the match, but clutch play from Southgate and Elliott saved four match points in the match tiebreak, which they finally won 13-11. Showing no signs of fatigue in the semifinals, they played Alma Semmes and Danjiella Zovic of Neu Engollon and, perhaps because they were used to playing in the hot weather, utterly outclassed their opponents, winning 6-1, 6-1. The final was trickier, played against their compatriots Algernon and Lamar; the opposition took the first set 6-1 before Southgate and Elliott again pulled the bunny out of the hat, so to speak, winning the next set 6-3 and the match tiebreak 11-9.

And despite all of this... the team was still unseeded in Beograd, at the Fresko Royal Nikolian Open, the team's last preparation for the Astyrian Slam in Carigrad. In their first match, they won against Giorgio Irani and Clementina Travers of Eastfield Lodge in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6; in their next match against qualifiers Ethan Manners and Susan Ingram of Ethane, they had chances to take the match in the second-set tiebreak, but the Ethanians won it, but that only delayed the inevitable as the red-hot form of the Gelderlish team saw them through in the match tiebreak. The first two sets of the Gelderlanders' quarterfinal against Jack Parminus and Adam Stratesimov of Mercedini were relatively tight, with the Mercedinians taking the first 7-6 and the Gelderlanders taking the second 7-5, but the match tiebreak was less tight, with the Gelderlanders taking it 10-5. Finally, the team snapped their 16-match winning streak, as the Xals got their revenge for their defeat back in Antillia, winning this time 6-4, 6-1.

Despite this loss, Southgate and Elliott rebounded in the Astyrian Slam, the most valuable of the events they had played in during the Astyrian clay court swing; this time they were seeded tenth. They first played Renee and Fi Richardson of the Kingdom of West Phoencia and were given a challenge, losing the middle set 6-3 but winning the two surrounding it; they next played compatriots Tommy West and Stephanie Brown, defeating them in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. The Rianor brothers of Ceni, Perger and Ricpeer, were up next, but they didn't prove much trouble for the combo of Southgate and Elliott, by then experienced in the art of trick shots, wacky angles, and well-played volleys; those came into good use against the serve-and-volley Rianors, as they won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. They next easily dismissed Phoebe Harvey and Berat Latif in the quarterfinals, winning 6-1, 6-3, without much exertion. In their semifinal match against Korekal and Iegis, the 18-year-old phenom duo from Ceni that gained the world #1 ranking after the tournament and a pair that Southgate and Elliott had lost to previously, the Gelderlish pair conceded a first set bagel but came back to win the next two sets 6-3. In the final, Ellela Thotan and Ciache Nagya, a team that, due to their baseline play, has done very well on clay in the past, took the first set on the Gelderlish pair, winning it 7-5, but the Gelderlanders held their own in baseline rallies and finished them off with points at the net to win the next two sets, 6-2 and 6-3, becoming part of an elite club: Grand Slam champions.

After all their work, the team is in first place in the Race to the World Tour Finals, with more than 4500 points, more than double the second-place doubles team, Thotan and Nagya of Ceni; the team also maintains the highest number of wins on tour this year, with an astounding 24-2 record so far. The team hopes to continue their momentum as they next head off to Rushmore for the next phase of the NationStates Tennis Tour, where they will enter as favorites on their home turf: the Terranean Swing, with events in Eura, New Gelderland, and Ceni, where the Gelderlish fans will be in full force. Their fans hope they can continue their momentum, but fear that fatigue will set in on both players. Whatever happens here in Rushmore, though, Mark Southgate and Megan Elliott have the coveted Grand Slam winners' trophy, and the Olympic Gold Medal, and will remain a part of that elite club as long as they live.

[Ceni]

Bastion - Singles - Round of 64

Megan Elliott (NGD)                7   5   3
Ty Kanelious (QAD)                 6   7   6

Alice Curson (ETN)                 7   6
Thomas Hutchon (ETN)               6   2

Nico Angelo (ETN)                  6   3   6
Mihaela Ioana Prisco (NTN)         4   6   1

Charlotte Little (ETN)             4   4
Felice Mareaux (NEG)               6   6

Marla Gerard (NEG)                 7   2   4
Giovanni Cadenzo (QAD)             6   6   6

Feyrord Poniac (QAD)               4   6   2
Jill Clarke (NGD)                  6   3   6

Dominic Ripaldi (NEG)              3   0
Jaxton Monty (QAD)                 6   6

Mark Southgate (NGD)               7   6
Alexander Linip (MRC)              6   3

Max Aswick (NGD)                   7   7
Jaimy Leger (EFL)                  6   5

Alma Semmes (NEG)                  7   4   4
Samuel Hartnell (ETN)              5   6   6

Tommy West (NGD)                   3   6   6
Andrea Palmannerson (MRC)          6   2   2

Noah Damaris (CEN)                 6   0   6
Alex Sanders (TOB)                 4   6   1

[Ceni]

Bastion - Singles - Round of 32

Botack Andiam (CEN)          6   6   2
Tony Tuk (QAD)               4   7   6

Liam Penderyn (NGD)          6   6
Halaeo DiGaldi (QAD)         1   4

Kika Dovan (CEN)             0   5
Melissa Herbert (NGD)        6   7

Neia Dovan (CEN)             1   6
Paisley Brazzos (QAD)        6   7

Andy Amada (CEN)             6   6
Cracik Almeronovic (MRC)     7   7

Stephanie Brown (NGD)        6   6
Marisa Maradona (CEN)        3   3

Johmer Vales (CEN)           5   6   6
Laura Roshik (MRC)           7   3   4

Mattias Doerwald (NEG)       3   6   6
Hollie Gratton (ETN)         6   4   0



Dioro Hansil (CEN)           2   6   2
Ty Kanelious (QAD)           6   2   6

Alice Curson (ETN)           4   6   6
Nico Angelo (ETN)            6   2   3

Lonus Varalin (CEN)          4   6   6
Felice Mareaux (NEG)         6   4   4

Giovanni Cadenzo (QAD)       1   0
Jill Clarke (NGD)            6   6

Ardil Navsal (CEN)           6   6   4
Jaxton Monty (QAD)           7   4   6

Mark Southgate (NGD)         6   6
Max Aswick (NGD)             1   1

Andrew Lamar (NGD)           6   6
Samuel Hartnell (ETN)        4   3

Tommy West (NGD)             7   6
Noah Damaris (CEN)           6   2

Bastion - Doubles - Round of 32

Val Korekal/Jac Iegis (CEN)                6   6
Phoebe Harvey/Berat Latif (EFL)            4   3

Tommy West/Stephanie Brown (NGD)           6   6
Blair Forest/Donny Knight (QAD)            1   4

Perger Rianor/Ricpeer Rianor (CEN)         6   7
Rikard Kampl/ Dominika Lisicki (MTJ)       2   6

Jack Parminus/Adam Stratesimov (MRC)       7   7
Andy Amada/Noah Damaris (CEN)              5   6

Will Nolovor/Kell Korden (CEN)             6   5   1
Terry Rèben/Icy Mellows (QAD)              4   7  10

Julian Slazic/ Lara Basic (MTJ)            4   3
Harry Blackwood/Liam Penderyn (NGD)        6   6

Oscar Bowermars/Julie Syncole (ETN)        7   7
Sonya Gredello/Rosa Levinsky (ETM)         6   6

Tony Tuk/Paisley Brazzos (QAD)             2   6
Coosal Darlcheri/Gyrachor Rentos (CEN)     6   7

Elia Xal/Fia Xal (CEN)                     6   7
Dioro Hansil/Lonus Varalin (CEN)           3   5

Kika Dovan/Neia Dovan (CEN)                6   6
Giorgio Irani/Clementina Travers (EFL)     3   1

Megan Elliott/Mark Southgate (NGD)         6   6
Yves Whitz/Franklin Polymar (QAD)          4   1

Max Aswick/Noah Lennox (NGD)               6   6
Phil Breen/Dan Kilbane (EUR)               2   3

Ellela Thotan/Ciache Nagya (CEN)           4   7  10
Jill Clarke/Melissa Herbert (NGD)          6   6   7

Laura Roshik/Wendy Noyek (MRC)             7   6
Jordan Bennet/Lucy Hockers (ETN)           6   4

Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)           6   6
Mattias Doerwald/Thierry Garzala (NEG)     0   2

Alma Semmes/Marla Gerard (NEG)             4   4
Botack Andiam/Johmer Vales (CEN)           6   6

[Ceni]

Bastion - Singles - Round of 16

Tony Tuk (QAD)               6   4   5
Liam Penderyn (NGD)          2   6   7

Melissa Herbert (NGD)        0   5
Paisley Brazzos (QAD)        6   7

Cracik Almeronovic (MRC)     6   6   5
Stephanie Brown (NGD)        7   3   7

Johmer Vales (CEN)           6   6
Mattias Doerwald (NEG)       2   2



Ty Kanelious (QAD)           7   4   6
Alice Curson (ETN)           6   6   2

Lonus Varalin (CEN)          6   6
Jill Clarke (NGD)            3   2

Jaxton Monty (QAD)           6   4   3
Mark Southgate (NGD)         3   6   6

Andrew Lamar (NGD)           6   5   0
Tommy West (NGD)             3   7   6

Bastion - Doubles - Round of 16

Val Korekal/Jac Iegis (CEN)                6   6
Tommy West/Stephanie Brown (NGD)           3   2

Perger Rianor/Ricpeer Rianor (CEN)         2   2
Jack Parminus/Adam Stratesimov (MRC)       6   6

Terry Rèben/Icy Mellows (QAD)              4   6   8
Harry Blackwood/Liam Penderyn (NGD)        6   2  10

Oscar Bowermars/Julie Syncole (ETN)        6   1  10
Coosal Darlcheri/Gyrachor Rentos (CEN)     3   6   8

Elia Xal/Fia Xal (CEN)                     6   6
Kika Dovan/Neia Dovan (CEN)                4   3

Megan Elliott/Mark Southgate (NGD)         4   6  10
Max Aswick/Noah Lennox (NGD)               6   3   4

Ellela Thotan/Ciache Nagya (CEN)           4   1
Laura Roshik/Wendy Noyek (MRC)             6   6

Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)           6   6
Botack Andiam/Johmer Vales (CEN)           4   3

[Ceni]

Bastion - Singles - Quarterfinals

Liam Penderyn (NGD)       6   3   7
Paisley Brazzos (QAD)     0   6   5

Stephanie Brown (NGD)     6   6
Johmer Vales (CEN)        0   3

Ty Kanelious (QAD)        6   6
Lonus Varalin (CEN)       2   4

Mark Southgate (NGD)      6   6
Tommy West (NGD)          4   2

Bastion - Doubles - Quarterfinals

Val Korekal/Jac Iegis (CEN)              6   5   6
Jack Parminus/Adam Stratesimov (MRC)     4   7  10

Harry Blackwood/Liam Penderyn (NGD)      7   6  12
Oscar Bowermars/Julie Syncole (ETN)      5   7  10

Elia Xal/Fia Xal (CEN)                   3   3
Megan Elliott/Mark Southgate (NGD)       6   6

Laura Roshik/Wendy Noyek (MRC)           2   6   4
Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)         6   4  10

[Ceni]

Bastion - Singles - Semifinals

Liam Penderyn (NGD)       7   2   6
Stephanie Brown (NGD)     5   6   4

Ty Kanelious (QAD)        7   5   7
Mark Southgate (NGD)      6   7   6

Bastion - Singles - Final

Liam Penderyn (NGD)      2   7   6
Ty Kanelious (QAD)       6   5   7

Bastion - Doubles - Semifinals

Jack Parminus/Adam Stratesimov (MRC)     4   6   6
Harry Blackwood/Liam Penderyn (NGD)      6   1  10

Megan Elliott/Mark Southgate (NGD)       6   6
Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)         3   2

Bastion - Doubles - Final

Harry Blackwood/Liam Penderyn (NGD)     6   6
Megan Elliott/Mark Southgate (NGD)      4   4

[Ceni]

New Gelderland Open draw sheets

Singles - Main Draw

Singles - Qualifying Draw
Winners of each bracket and 2 lucky losers qualify.

Edward Hinton (ETN) vs Molly Rhonic (MRC)
Benjamin Thompson (ETN) vs Mihaela Márcia Rodrigues (NTN)

Tony Tuk (QAD) vs Haylee Hedlund (EFL)
Ioana Amúlio Constantinescu (NTN) vs Jake Barnley (ETN)

Rasmus Milik (MRC) vs Rog Ion Tralito (NTN)
Sabina Soca (MTJ) vs Violet Prieto (EFL)

Sarah Johnson (TOB) vs Georgette Cannon (EFL)
Ion Gheorghe Gheorghenescu (NTN) vs Jane Smith (TOB)

Doubles - Main Draw

Doubles - Qualifying Draw
Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin (MRC) vs Sarah Johnson/Jane Smith (TOB)
Marco Vrient/Thierry Garzala (NEG) vs Mihai Publius Apilesco/Ion Marcus Ioanescu (NTN)

Paul Chinra/Alex Sanders (TOB) vs Adam Bennet/Thomas Winston (ETN)
Mihai Carolus Maro/Claudius Ion Varro (NTN) vs Alma Semmes/Felice Mareaux (NEG)

[Ceni]

New Gelderland - Singles - Qualifying Round 1

Edward Hinton (ETN)                   6   6   2
Molly Rhonic (MRC)                    7   2   6

Benjamin Thompson (ETN)               6   6
Mihaela Márcia Rodrigues (NTN)        3   4

Tony Tuk (QAD)                        7   6
Haylee Hedlund (EFL)                  5   4

Ioana Amúlio Constantinescu (NTN)     4   6   4
Jake Barnley (ETN)                    6   1   6

Rasmus Milik (MRC)                    6   6
Rog Ion Tralito (NTN)                 4   2

Sabina Soca (MTJ)                     4   3
Violet Prieto (EFL)                   6   6

Sarah Johnson (TOB)                   0   7   7
Georgette Cannon (EFL)                6   6   6

Ion Gheorghe Gheorghenescu (NTN)      6   6
Jane Smith (TOB)                      2   3

New Gelderland - Singles - Qualifying Round 2

Molly Rhonic (MRC)                   1   6   6  Q
Benjamin Thompson (ETN)              6   3   4  LL

Tony Tuk (QAD)                       6   6  Q
Jake Barnley (ETN)                   0   4  LL

Rasmus Milik (MRC)                   5   6   6  Q
Violet Prieto (EFL)                  7   2   1

Sarah Johnson (TOB)                  6   6  Q
Ion Gheorghe Gheorghenescu (NTN)     3   4

New Gelderland - Doubles - Qualifying Round 1

Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin (MRC)             7   7
Sarah Johnson/Jane Smith (TOB)                  6   5

Marco Vrient/Thierry Garzala (NEG)              2   6  10
Mihai Carolus Maro/Claudius Ion Varro (NTN)     6   2   8

Paul Chinra/Alex Sanders (TOB)                  6   2   9
Adam Bennet/Thomas Winston (ETN)                4   6  11

Mihai Carolus Maro/Claudius Ion Varro (NTN)     6   2  12
Alma Semmes/Felice Mareaux (NEG)                3   6  10

New Gelderland - Doubles - Qualifying Round 2

Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin (MRC)             6   6
Marco Vrient/Thierry Garzala (NEG)              1   4

Adam Bennet/Thomas Winston (ETN)                3   6  10
Mihai Carolus Maro/Claudius Ion Varro (NTN)     6   4   3

[Qasden]

Qasden
Athletic News
Kanelious adds on to Qad History, Bastion is ours!

---

11 months into our NSTT reputation, and it has finally happened, ladies and gentlemen.

Being one of 3 Qads to automatically qualify via rank, Ty Kanelious bypassed the treacherous preliminaries, which surprisingly only claimed one Qad. With the qualis completed, Ty finally gets to bust out his racquet against New Gelderland's Megan Elliott.

The first set featured an intensely close series of games, with the déficit never expanding beyond 2 games. Immediately, Elliott showed to be a powerful force, winning the first set, 60-30. Quickly however, Kanelious retaliated with a 60-15 win in the second game. The scores were heated. 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, the scores were relentless. The set tied itself at 6, before soon after being won by Elliot. The second set was nearly as close as the first, spanning 12 games alone. The total stood at 5-5, but a dramatic increase in Kanelious willpower gives the Qad the equalizer. The final set featured only 9 games, however, and the Elliot power had somehow deteriorated. While an alarming start, Megan finally fell as Ty took the final set, 6-3.

Next up for Ty was Dioro Hansil, one of the many Cenians that reign supreme in NSTT. The first set featured an almost one-sided feat. Kanelious immediately set off to completely dominate Hansil throughout the set, taking all but 2 games with ease. 6-2, the first set was Ty's. The second set followed almost the exact same....but...opposite? A spark must've lit in Dioro, because in a flash, the Cenian slammed Kanelious (pun intended) by a score of 6-2. Finally, one more set to determine the greater good of the second proper round. At first, things commenced slow. Really slow. Then it began to get faster and faster and faster. Soon, the Qad's flare arose from the night and pierced Hansil's power-status. The last set was won 6-2, giving TQ the big win into the round of 16.

The round of 16 pitted Ty against the Ethanian known simply as Alice Curson. Set 1 displayed some serious déjà vu, almost completely similar to the first set that of the Elliot match. 7-6, no other game seemed as close. But the seventh and winning game was instead awarded to Kanelious instead of the adversary. Alice didn't take that too nicely, and repaid Ty with a run for his money during the second set. 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5, that game came to close to handle. Unfortunately, despite an initial 45-Love lead, Ty choked on the final game, handing the set over to Team Ethane. Finally, the third set gave us more déjà vu, but this time from the Hansil match. 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, Ty was restless against Curson. After 8 long games, Alice broke, and Kanelious was granted permission to proceed to the quarters. This feat was accomplished only by Kanelious and Brazzos, the final 2 left of TQ in Bastion.

The quarter-show bronzed an iron match, Ty Kanelious against Lonus Varalin, the last remaining Cenian following the defeat of Johmer Vales earlier that round. The first set pictured what could only be perceived as a lost fact, as almost immediately, Varalin began to fall behind Kanelious. 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, the magnificent Lonus barely saw the light of day before Ty ended the set, 6-2, hurling the Cenian into darkness. The second set was much more hard fought, now sprawling a longer lifetime than 8 games. Linus held the game to 4-4, but had slipped under the wire in the final two games, killing the last of any team that is not of New Gelderland nor Qasden. With that, Ty becomes the only player left not deriving from Electrum's southernmost neighbor.

Entering the semi-finals with high hopes, Kanelious was mashed against the titan, Mark Southgate. The first two sets were nothing short of hecticity. Set 1 took the series to 7-6, with Kanelious taking the gold. Meanwhile, the second set saw Southgate take down Ty, 7-5. But it was the final set that really exploded the crowd in Eura. 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5, the set stretched to the whole 13. In the final game, 6-6, Southgate served the ball first, taking the game 15-0. Qasden's own retaliated, 30-15. Mark draws the score at 30, but soon goes to deuce. Double deuce, triple deuce, there was no real breakthrough until 8 loops of deuce passed. In all games for a miracle to happen, it was this one. Kanelious, tired and worn out, skidded one last ball past the equally exhausted Southgate, taking the series and booking his trip to the Keystone Bastion Open Finals.

Lastly, we meet Liam Penderyn, the final opponent of Ty. The first set was frankly nothing special or crazy, as Ty surprised the Qad-killer by hitting him up at a ratio of 3:1. 6-2, that set ended, and already the Qasdonian pubs began cheering drunkenly. The second grew tighter, the games constructed like the grasp of a giant python. Parallels intertwined, and eventually, Liam pulled through, taking a 7-5 set. We now reach the apex of the tournament, the thing everyone has been anticipating...the third set. Not only was it set 3 in the finals, but better, a fantastically nimble one. New Gelderland had the lead, then Qasden, then New Gelderland again, then Qasden. There was no absolute way this was going under 13 games before concluding itself. The number was struck, and the final game began. 15-love. 15 all. 15-30. 30 all. 45-30. Deuce. Adv-45. MATCH. The crowds went silent......and soon began roaring as blue and red confetti rained down from above. That's right, Ty Kanelious has become the first ever Qasdonian to ever win an NSTT Title, not to mention it was a Tier 1 Mandatory event, the highest outside the grand slams. Fanzones went absolutely ballistic. It was a dream come true, just like CoH69. Even Kan himself couldn't believe it.

"Honestly, I'm still in hysteria from that last serve, because dang man, it was that adrenalizing for me. I think what I did today will be a perfect display of Qad force here in Rushmore, and I can't wait to rejoin the cycle soon.".

Following the victory, Ty Kanelious will be skipping the next tournament and reappear at the Cenial Masters in Ceni. Speaking of, the next tournament, the New Gelderland Open in Nassau Bay, will have many of Qasden's mid-major athletes compete for the tier 2 title to boost the association's overall existence. Most get to bypass the qualifiers, but one lucky soul just so happened to stay. Tony Tuk, the lowest ranked Qad at NGO's singles event, will have to face (and beat) Eastfield Lodge's Haylee Hedlund in the first preliminary. Should he succeed, he will play the winner of Ioana Amúlio Constantinescu and Jake Barnley, where all he needs is to either win or finish strong to rejoin the group in the proper.

Will Tuk succeed in Nassau Bay? Could the Vans start a chain reaction in Rushmore leading to the end of Ceni's reign of tennis? Only one fat lady will sing, so stay tuned, stay updated, and stay Viking for our next report, digging up live from the fields of New Gelderland!

[Vers-Gelderland]

TENNIS AGAIN COMES TO NASSAU BAY
Gelderlish, Cenian players top draws in NSTT Tier 2 event

The tennis world turns its attention to Nassau Bay as the NationStates Tennis Tour's event schedule takes it to the New Gelderland Open, a Tier 2 event on the tour, where some of the world's top players, including top Gelderlish and Cenian players, come to take part in preparation for the Cenial Masters and, ultimately, the Cenian Open in less than a month. Fans will surely be flocking to this event which features some fan favorites, top seeds, and dark horses in the competition that makes the sport of tennis interesting.

This will be the second showing of the New Gelderland Open, the first taking place around this time last year. The singles edition was won by Neu Engollon's Marla Gerard, while the doubles championship was won by Schottia's Rob Westfelt and Ken Gates; unfortunately, the latter chose not to return to the competition, but a competitive field will take their place. (We preview the doubles event tomorrow.) The tournament itself takes place on hard courts at the Sentinel Lake Tennis Centre at the Sentinel Lake Recreational Area, about 30 minutes north of the city of Nassau Bay by train. It features a Stadium Court with 5,000 seats, Stadium 2 with 3,000, a Grandstand with 2,000, and several other courts with capacities ranging from 250 to 1,000 seats, all built less than 5 years ago; whenever it isn't hosting the Open, it is open to the public for recreational use.

Now, let's get going to preview the singles draw of the event. The top half of the event has Johmer Vales, the top seed from Ceni, who should draw thousands of fans to the tournament from that nearby island country. He has a fairly easy path to the quarterfinals, at least, with no Qads or Mercedinians possible until then; his first round opponent is lucky loser Jake Barnley, an unranked player from Ethane, and he could play either Aljaz Corluka or Danjiella Zovic in the second round. However, Neia Dovan, the eighth seed, wasn't as lucky; she faces Jaxton Monty of Qasden, who can be a threat nowadays considering the Qads' newfound prowess at Bastion, and she could face dangerous floater Noah Damaris, who has a bomb serve on a good day. The top Gelderlish seed in this half of the draw is Liam Penderyn, the precocious 18-year-old who just recently entered the top 10 after his run to the final last Beek in Bastion, who was given a wild card into the main draw; he plays Paul Chinra of Tobiasia before having to play either of Cracik Almeronovic of Mercedini or Tony Tuk of Qasden in the second round. Also in this quarter of the draw, we have 7th seed Mark Southgate, also a Gelderlish favorite here at the event, playing Dominic Ripaldi of Neu Engollon in the first round; Gelderlish wild card Jill Clarke will take on Mercedini's Mei Jokek in what is sure to be a fan's favorite. r.

The bottom half of the draw has second seed Andrew Lamar, a fan favorite here at this Gelderlish event, who won the Tier 2 event at Albergaria and the Tier 3 event in Nova Lisboa earlier this year and is thus one of the favorites for the title here. He could face the Qad Feyrord Poniac in the second round, though, a potentially tough matchup. Tommy West is seeded 5th and in this section of the draw as well, but he faces a potential threat in Bastion quarterfinalist and Qad Paisley Brazzos in the second round in what should be a scintillating matchup for the serve-and-volleyer. Stephanie Brown is the next-highest seed in this half of the draw, seeded 4th overall; she faces tour veteran Mattias Doerwald in the first round, and could face former world #3 Marla Gerard, now unseeded, in the second. Kika Dovan, seeded 6th, rounds out the seeds in the bottom half of the draw; she faces an entirely handleable path to the quarterfinals, with qualifier Sarah Johnson of Tobiasia her first opposition, and a choice of either Molly Rhonic, a Mercedinian qualifier, or Alex Sanders of Tobiasia in the second round.

It appears, then, that Cenians and Gelderlanders are the favorites here in the New Gelderland Open, with these nations able to enjoy a significant amount of home support, due to the proximity to the former country and the fact that the tournament is being hosted in the latter. It doesn't hurt that all of the seeds are either Gelderlish or Cenian, with one of these nations poised to take the title if you're only looking at rankings. But if you're not, there are some very dangerous floaters to consider, with Cracik Almeronovic, Marla Gerard, Jaxton Monty, and Paisley Brazzos all posing a threat deep beyond their rankings. Keep up with us at GelderSport for the latest news and results at the Nassau Bay Open, so you don't miss a single part of the action!

[Ceni]

New Gelderland - Singles - Round of 32

Johmer Vales (CEN)           6   6
Jake Barnley (ETN)           3   1

Aljaz Corluka (MTJ)          6   5   6
Danjiella Zovic (NEG)        3   7   7

Neia Dovan (CEN)             6   7   0
Jaxton Monty (QAD)           7   6   6

Noah Damaris (CEN)           3   7   6
Samuel Hartnell (ETN)        6   5   3

Liam Penderyn (NGD)          6   6
Paul Chinra (TOB)            0   2

Cracik Almeronovic (MRC)     2   4
Tony Tuk (QAD)               6   6

Mark Southgate (NGD)         6   6
Dominic Ripaldi (NEG)        2   0

Mei Jokek (MRC)              6   6   7
Jill Clarke (NGD)            4   7   6

Andrew Lamar (NGD)           7   6
Dominika Lisicki (MTJ)       6   2

Feyrord Poniac (QAD)         6   6
Mattias Burges (MTJ)         2   3

Tommy West (NGD)             4   5
Meaghan Sharples (EFL)       6   7

Paisley Brazzos (QAD)        7   6
Rasmus Milik (MRC)           5   2

Stephanie Brown (NGD)        6   7
Mattias Burges (MTJ)         4   5

Benjamin Thompson (ETN)      2   1
Marla Gerard (NEG)           6   6

Kika Dovan (CEN)             7   7
Sarah Johnson (TOB)          5   5

Molly Rhonic (MRC)           6   4   6
Alex Sanders (TOB)           3   6   4

[Vers-Gelderland]

DOUBLES COMPETITION STARTS TODAY IN NASSAU BAY
Cenian, Gelderlish Teams Headline Competition

With play starting yesterday in Nassau Bay, fans in New Gelderland have been excited over tennis, and today, they will have even more to be excited for, as the doubles competition at the New Gelderland Open, at the Sentinel Peak Tennis Centre, will commence its competition with the beginning of Round of 16 action later this morning. Especially considering that in New Gelderland, the doubles game has enjoyed popularity on par with the singles game, this competition will be especially popular with Nassau Bay residents and all Gelderlanders, considering the amount of Gelderlish players competing here in the doubles, so let's dig deep into the draw and do some previews.

Elia and Fia Xal, multiple-time Grand Slam champions, headline the top half of the draw, but they will not have an easy path to the semifinals; Perger and Ricpeer Rianor, a team that has only just recently dropped out of the Top 10 and a team that has won multiple titles on the ATP and NSTT Tours, could face the Xals in the quarterfinals, if they make it past Kampl and Lisicki of Mattijana. Liam Penderyn and Harry Blackwood, the recent champions in Bastion, were given a wild card into the draw, and they will be the crowd favorites for the event in the top half, especially against the Qads Reben and Mellows. The final match in the top half is between Mercedinian qualifiers Patrick Sintarnov and Harry Rymin and the Eastfield Lodgers Kiersten Bullock and Reina Jaber; this should be an interesting and competitive matchup all around.

The bottom half of the draw is headlined by Mark Southgate and Megan Elliott, who have won 4 titles this year and reached the final last week in Bastion, as well as being ranked #3 in the world and #1 in the Race to the World Tour Finals. If they win their first round match, they will face either Jack Parminus and Adam Stratesimov of Mercedini, the world #12 team which is a dangerous floater in this event, or Slazic and Basic of Mattijana, who are relatively consistent, having reached the top 30. Jack Algernon and Andrew Lamar, although they have not won any titles this year, have been remarkably consistent throughout the year, reaching the quarterfinals and semifinals of high-level events, as well as the final of the Albergaria Open; they are seeded fourth. They could face the dangerous team of Coosal Darlcheri and Gyrachor Rentos, a Cenian team that had success on the hard court swing last year, winning in Bastion and Cenial, in the quarterfinals.

With the success that Gelderlish players have had on the doubles circuit in the past couple of months, many people have tipped the Gelderlish teams for success here on their home soil. Seeing as the home support can only help 3 of the top 10 teams in the world, it's no surprise that many have pegged them to win the title here, continuing a streak that has successfully shifted from the clay courts to the hard courts. We at GelderSport, of course, hope for our Gelderlish athletes to win the title; keep up with us here to follow all the latest tennis action!

[Ceni]

New Gelderland - Singles - Round of 16

Johmer Vales (CEN)         6   3   6
Danjiella Zovic (NEG)      1   6   2

Jaxton Monty (QAD)         7   4   6
Noah Damaris (CEN)         5   6   2

Liam Penderyn (NGD)        7   2   6
Tony Tuk (QAD)             6   6   3

Mark Southgate (NGD)       6   6
Mei Jokek (MRC)            3   4

Andrew Lamar (NGD)         7   6
Feyrord Poniac (QAD)       6   3

Meaghan Sharples (EFL)     5   1
Paisley Brazzos (QAD)      7   6

Stephanie Brown (NGD)      7   6
Marla Gerard (NEG)         5   2

Kika Dovan (CEN)           6   1   5
Molly Rhonic (MRC)         1   6   7

New Gelderland - Doubles - Round of 16

Elia Xal/Fia Xal (CEN)                     6   1  10
Yves Whitz/Franklin Polymar (QAD)          3   6   6

Perger Rianor/Ricpeer Rianor (CEN)         6   6  11
Rikard Kampl/ Dominika Lisicki (MTJ)       1   7   9

Liam Penderyn/Harry Blackwood (NGD)        6   6
Terry Rèben/Icy Mellows (QAD)              1   2

Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin (MRC)        6   5  10
Kiersten Bullock/Reina Jaber (EFL)         3   7   7

Mark Southgate/Megan Elliott (NGD)         6   6
Newton Gray/Thomas Greene (ETN)            3   3

Jack Parminus/Adam Stratesimov (MRC)       6   4  10
Julian Slazic/ Lara Basic (MTJ)            2   6   4

Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)           7   4  10
Adam Bennet/Thomas Winston (ETN)           6   6   6

Cristos Browning/Mya Browning (EFL)        7   4   5
Coosal Darlcheri/Gyrachor Rentos (CEN)     6   6  10

[Ceni]

New Gelderland - Singles - Quarterfinals

Johmer Vales (CEN)        4   1
Jaxton Monty (QAD)        6   6

Liam Penderyn (NGD)       6   3   6
Mark Southgate (NGD)      4   6   2

Andrew Lamar (NGD)        6   6
Paisley Brazzos (QAD)     2   2

Stephanie Brown (NGD)     6   6
Molly Rhonic (MRC)        1   4

New Gelderland - Doubles - Quarterfinals

Elia Xal/Fia Xal (CEN)                     2   3
Perger Rianor/Ricpeer Rianor (CEN)         6   6

Liam Penderyn/Harry Blackwood (NGD)        2   7  10
Patrick Sintarnov/Harry Rymin (MRC)        6   5   2

Mark Southgate/Megan Elliott (NGD)         4   6  10
Jack Parminus/Adam Stratesimov (MRC)       6   1   8

Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)           7   2  10
Coosal Darlcheri/Gyrachor Rentos (CEN)     6   6   6

[Ceni]

New Gelderland - Singles - Semifinals

Jaxton Monty (QAD)        3   7   3
Liam Penderyn (NGD)       6   5   6

Andrew Lamar (NGD)        3   6   3
Stephanie Brown (NGD)     6   2   6

New Gelderland - Singles - Final

Liam Penderyn (NGD)       6   7
Stephanie Brown (NGD)     2   6

New Gelderland - Doubles - Semifinals

Perger Rianor/Ricpeer Rianor (CEN)      4   6  10
Liam Penderyn/Harry Blackwood (NGD)     6   3   7

Mark Southgate/Megan Elliott (NGD)      3   6
Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)        6   7

New Gelderland - Doubles - Final

Perger Rianor/Ricpeer Rianor (CEN)     1   4
Jack Algernon/Andrew Lamar (NGD)       6   6