Jay Devilliers Stages Dramatic Comeback: Jay Devilliers defeated No. 8 seed John Lucian Goins in a tense three-game battle on Wednesday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Devilliers won 11-9, 10-12, 11-6, ending John Lucian Goins’ quest for a third straight men’s singles championship after nearly eighty minutes of play.
How the Match Unfolded
The match opened with drama as Jay Devilliers trailed 1-9 in the first game but staged a stunning comeback to win 11-9. John Lucian Goins answered in the second game, pulling through with a narrow 12-10 victory to even the score.
In the deciding third game, both players fought point for point until they were tied at 6-6. From there, Jay Devilliers found another gear and scored the final five points to secure the win and move into the Round of 16.
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Devilliers on Preparation
The victory was a big moment for Jay Devilliers, who missed the second half of 2024 due to a knee injury. He spoke about the effort that went into preparing for a young but accomplished opponent.
“I’ve been practicing more and more singles since I’ve been healthy, and this was a good challenge for me. I knew he didn’t know much about me since he’s always in the finals and I’m not usually making it that far, but I felt like this was my chance to show him what I’m made of,”
he told Pickleballtv’s Kamryn Blackwood and Matt Manasse after the match.
“I studied his game. I felt like yesterday I spent like three hours watching his matches, and I implemented some strategies that worked well today.”
The Backhand Advantage
One of the key shots for Jay Devilliers was his two-handed backhand, which he used to control rallies late in the match. He explained how he has been developing the shot after relying on a one-handed backhand during his college tennis days at Wichita State University.
“The two-hander is something I’ve been working on for a long time. “It didn’t come very naturally to me, but it’s finally starting to take shape at times. I found it in Atlanta against Jaume [Martinez Vich] as well, so here I was happy to be hitting it well.”( Jay Devilliers)
What Comes Next
With this win, Jay Devilliers moves on to face No. 18 seed Adam Harvey on Thursday for a chance to reach the quarterfinals. For John Lucian Goins, the loss stops a strong run that included recent titles in Bristol and Las Vegas, while Jay Devilliers proves he is ready to compete again at the highest level.
News in Brief: Jay Devilliers Stages Dramatic Comeback
Jay Devilliers upset No. 8 seed John Lucian Goins 11-9, 10-12, 11-6 in the men’s singles Round of 32 at the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase. The win ends John Lucian Goins’ two-title streak and moves Jay Devilliers into the Round of 16, where he will face Adam Harvey.
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