In Gruelling Victory, Will Gets Back His Golden Balls

On Sunday, April 4th, 2004, William Durham, the San Francisco Champion took on the San Jose Champion, Andrew Cohen, in a title match in Greenville, North Carolina. For over a year, Andrew Cohen had held the Coveted US Kick Tennis Champion, the Golden Kickball. William Durham Struck a valiant blow to Andrew's ego and returned the golden ball to San Francisco.

It was a sunny day in Greenville, but the winds had kicked up, giving the San Francisco Champion a slight advantage, mimicking the windy conditions that he

has honed his skills in. It took Andrew a while to adjust. Will blazed through the first set, 6-2.The second set, however, Andrew came back with

FINAL SCORE Will Wins, 2 Sets to 1 1st Set: 6-2, Will 2nd Set: 6-6 (6-3) Andrew 3rd Set: 6-6 (6-4) Will

A sense of purpose. A year in possession of the golden ball had rendered him arrogant. He needed to regroup. Every serve was met with a tough return. Every settle was forced, sped up, to keep the other party on its toes. Will led 5-4, serving for the match. Andrew forced deuce, then broke serve, tieing things up 5-5. The two Champions would continue to 6-6

and move to tie breaker. Andrew was swift and brutal in the tie breaker. He quickly advanced to 5-1. Will fought back, but it was too little. A 3rd set had to be played. Both men were beginning to show fatique. In early May, the warmth was just returning and hydration was quickly becoming an issue. The fans were getting every pennies worth as Andrew began the 3rd

set. Serves where pretty straighforward. Until Andrew broke late, going up 5-3. Will fought back, breaking and winning, to get to 5-5. Once again, we were approaching a tiebreaker. Both men won their serves, and the fate of the Golden Ball would be determined by a race to 6 Points.

Will burst out to an early lead. Summoning from somewhere deep inside, Will found that extra bit of energy. The Golden Ball was calling him. The points got longer. Side-kicks, boots, and sky balls reigned as the two combatants used all the trickery they knew from years on the Kick Tennis Circuit. But in the end, old fashion hard work carried the day.

Cohen to Reporters: "I'm going to be busy in the upcoming weeks, searching for my lost dignity. I'm a broken man. But this is the life I've chosen, for when I die, I will have but one regret: That I had but one life to dedicate, in success or failure, to the pursuit of kick tennis perfection."

Will worked the corners, forcing Andrew to sprint and make weak returns. A high ball to the far left. A line drive to the right corner. Will led 5-3. One point from victory. A slicing serve, Andrew returns to the right. Slightly out of position, Will shoots moonball to the far left. Andrew chases, must juggle to set up and sends a rocket back. Andrew's out of position, running to get back on the court. Will sends a drop shot to the shallow right. It bounces once. Andrew runs. Twice. Andrew slides and kicks. The ball sails toward the net. But too shallow. Into the net it goes. WILL BRINGS BACK THE GOLDEN BALL.

Return to Kick Tennis                  Return to Home