Nationals 2021 Men's Final: Du Randt/Mitchell defeat Burus/Irdoja

Recap

Unfortunately, the key storyline in this final (and in the semis) was the weather. This impacted the gameplay significantly and also hurt the quality of the live stream. The final pitted Johan du Randt and Stephen Mitchell against Sven Burus and Mikk Irdoja. All of the players did their best to ignore the weather and put forth a focused and energetic performance. Congratulations to Du Randt/Mitchell for capturing the 2021 title.

There were obviously some highlights in this match, and some tense pivotal points, some of which we'll cover in this article. Let's skip ahead, though, to match point:

So, how did we get there?

First Set

The difference in the first set was the first game. Irdoja faulted on his first two serves and Du Randt/Mitchell hit a few good drives to take the game. Five holds thereafter took them to 4-2, with Du Randt hitting aces on his serve to the deuce court off the nick.

2-4, Burus serving

First point:

Burus got down 15-40 in this game with some faults, but then they rattled off 4 straight to take it.

4-3, Mitchell serving

Mitchell faulted once but every other point was over within a few shots to take them to 5-3. Here's some cute hands at net from Du Randt to take a point in that game:

3-5, Irdoja serving

More of the same with the net team taking a huge advantage. But there was a gem here with Du Randt ski-jumping out of the way of a ball:

Game point at 40-30 was close to real paddle, but ended with a skid-nick.

5-4, Du Randt serving

Quick points takes us to double set point at 40-15, and we get a tremendous point. Watch Mitchell's matrix move to get out of the way of a skid overhead:

Unfortunately, Burus wiffs on the return of serve on the next point.

First set: 6-4, Du Randt/Mitchell.

Second Set

We'll skip to the second game.

0-1, Mitchell serving

Up 40-0, Du Randt hits a heavy, heavy cut and the ball flies off the wire:

1-1, Burus serving

With the pressure right back on them, Burus serves at 15-0 and Du Randt picks his pocket down the line:

At 30-30, Burus faults.

30-40, it's Mitchell's turn to go down the line and it pays off big:

So, Du Randt/Mitchell break to go up 2-1, and take control of the second set and, seemingly, the match.

3-2, Mitchell serving

Irdoja holds in the prior game and puts the pressure back on Mitchell to hold to stay up the break. Mitchell serves pretty well this game to start, but it fades.

At 15-0, Burus hits a half-drive through to take the point:

Mitchell goes up 30-15, but then faults three times to end the game. And, Du Randt/Mitchell give the break back to Burus/Irdoja and we've got a match.

4-5, Mitchell serving

Both teams hold to get to this point. Another pressure service game for Mitchell and it clearly gets to him (along with the weather).

At 15-0, Mitchell goes behind the back to stay in the point, but it's not enough as Irdoja takes it:

Unfortunately, Mitchell faults three times after that to end the set.

Second set: 6-4, Burus/Irdoja.

Third Set

We'll pick up the action in the fourth game, as the first three skewed heavily to the serving team.

1-2, Mitchell serving

Mitchell was broken to lose the second set, so this is a key game for him to show whether he is unfazed and locked in, or still struggling with confidence on his serve. Unfortunately, it was the latter. He faulted 3 times to start the game. Down 0-40, he gets a serve in and they have a short battle:

So, they get the point, and then take the next two. Back to 40-40, Mitchell faults twice more to end the game. Huge game and it goes to Irdoja/Burus.

3-1, Irdoja serving

This game, in a sense, becomes the match. If Irdoja holds, they go up 4-1 and are just two holds away from the title, which is very likely in these conditions.

Mitchell is coming off a horrible service game, but is steady in this game. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Du Randt starts to assert himself in this game and that is the difference.

We pick up the action at 15-15 after a fault and a missed drive by Du Randt.

Du Randt smokes a return right through the middle and Irdoja can't keep it in play, perhaps mildly surprised at how well Du Randt struck it. Mitchell goes for the next return at 15-30, but misses it. Now at 30-30, Irdoja and Burus have a little extra pep talk before the serve, and Irdoja hits a nice serve to the side wire, negating any return from Du Randt.

Now one point away from a 4-1 lead, Irdoja serves at 40-30 to Mitchell. Mitchell gets a hold of this serve off the back wire and rips it through the middle. Similar to the third point in this game, Irdoja goes for the drive off his back wire and nets it. Back to deuce, and another Du Randt return.

The return is solid, but Irdoja/Burus win the point to take the Ad. Another point for a 4-1 lead... and Irdoja faults. Back to deuce and, in hindsight, possibly the turning point of the match. Another Du Randt return ripped through the middle and this time a little "C'mon!" from Du Randt as Irdoja can't get a paddle on it.

Break point. Du Randt/Mitchell take the net on a lob by Du Randt and win the game:

2-3, Du Randt serving

Du Randt holds with 3 aces in the game, and puts the pressure right back on Irdoja/Burus.

3-3, Burus serving

Burus faults on the first point, but they get up 30-15, and then he faults again.

At 30-30, Du Randt crushes a return and Irdoja volleys deep.

At 40-30, Mitchell crushes a return and Burus volleys deep. And quickly, Du Randt/Mitchell are now two holds away from the title.

4-3, Mitchell serving

Mitchell has been broken on his last three service games, so he's feeling a ton of pressure here. He hits a lollipop first serve and then volleys deep. Second point, he gets a bit of a gift as Burus nets the return.

At 15-15, he hits another lollipop with Du Randt going Australian at the net, but Mitchell volleys deep again. Tons of pressure again at 15-30, but Mitchell sticks the volley at Burus' feet.

30-30 is a huge point with Du Randt going Australian at the net, and Irdoja ripping the return right at him:

But Mitchell faults on the next two points, to give the Ad right back to Burus/Irdoja!

And then Mitchell says "enough of these lollipops" and hits a real serve and Burus whiffs. Back to deuce, and Mitchell's got some swagger now. He rips another serve and they get into the point and take it from the net.

With the Ad, Mitchell hits another hard serve and they take the game:

3-5, Irdoja serving

Serving to stay in the match, and with the rain picking up again, Irdoja faults on the first and then they win the second point.

At 15-15, Du Randt rips another return through the middle.

At 15-30, it's a great point with Burus sticking the volley to a blitzing Du Randt, who puts it long. Next two points are quick: Du Randt missed drive, and then a fault.

At 40-40, Irdoja hits a beautiful skid serve, to take the Ad. And then Mitchell misses a short drive into the net.

5-4, Du Randt serving

Serving for the title, Du Randt didn't hit it much differently than he had been all match.

First point is an ace:

At 15-0, Du Randt hits a hard cut to the corner.

At 30-0, Mitchell owns the net:

At 40-0, it's match point and, well, we saw what happened above.

Final: Du Randt/Mitchell def. Burus/Irdoja 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Summary

Again, the weather was a major factor and altered the style of play significantly. All four players gave a first-class effort. Congratulations to Burus/Irdoja for a breakout year, and congratulations to Du Randt/Mitchell for repeating as APTA Nationals Champions in 2021.