Nationals 2021 Women's Final: Hanisch/Zubori defeat Cruz/Niculescu

Recap

Like the Men's final, the weather was a major factor here, though not quite as bad. Both teams had their semi-final mach go three sets but fitness did not seem to be an issue for anyone, including Hanisch who was pregnant at the time.

We have a complete recap of each set and the key points throughout. Let's skip ahead, though, to match point:

So, how did we get there?

First Set

We pick up the action at 2-2 in the first. The first four games were fairly even, with both teams feeling out the conditions and the opponent.

2-2, Zubori serving

At 15-15, we see our first long paddle point.

Solid point. Nice lobbing by Cruz, Niculescu and ends with a tough corner wire by Zubori. Niculescu recovers though on the next point with a hammer that Zubori volleys wide, and then Zubori nets an overhead.

At 30-40, Niculescu flexes on a blitz and takes the game with some hand-to-hand combat.

3-2, Cruz serving

This is a big game for Cruz/Niculescu to consolidate the break, and you can sense both teams locking in a bit and playing strong shots.

At 0-0, Hanisch goes down the line with her return of serve and Niculescu blocks her volley back to the middle of the court. It's an interesting shot because it opens things way up for Zubori's drive, and they ultimately win the point.

Then, at 15-15, Hanisch goes back to it again. Same end result: Zubori drive, win the point.

But Cruz/Niculescu battle, and pull out the game after a few deuces and some contentious line calls.

2-4, Hanisch holds serve

At 40-30, great transition point and Hanisch/Zubori stay in the set:

4-3, Niculescu serving

Niculescu with a straightforward hold. Intensity level is increasing for both teams, with Niculescu letting out a "C'mon!" within a split second after every error by her opponents.

3-5, Zubori serving

Poor game by Zubori. A couple of missed serves and a few other errors.

First set: 6-3, Cruz/Niculescu.

Second Set

We'll skip ahead a few games. First three games were holds. And then Cruz/Niculescu break Hanisch to go up 3-1. But Zubori/Hanisch break right back to stay in the set.

2-3, Zubori serving

At 0-15, nice cut by Zubori:

Back and forth game in terms of points, but most of them are quick. Zubori wins a few with the cut overhead and nets a few. It's a great point at deuce, with Niculescu digging multiple balls from her shoelaces:

Hanisch/Zubori win the next point to get the game and stay even in the set.

5-6, Hanisch serving

We skip ahead after a bunch of holds to 5-6 on Hanisch's serve. It's a tense game but the points are fairly quick. At 40-30, we get a ticky-tack gem:

6-6, Tiebreaker

Cruz/Niculescu jump out to a 3-1 lead, but after a contested call goes to the umpire, Hanisch/Zubori come back to make it 3-3 with Hanisch serving and we get a fun point, with everyone shouting "C'mon" in frustration and elation:

So, Hanisch/Zubori go up 4-3, and take that momentum into the next point where Hanisch shows off her intelligence in recognizing Niculescu's hard roller and her athleticism to get to the ball given she's pregnant!

A fault by Cruz and a missed return, and we're going three!

Second set: 7-6, Hanisch/Zubori.

Third Set

Two straightforward holds take us to 1-1.

1-1, Hanisch serving

Hanisch faults twice to go down 15-30 in her service game, but then she flexes to chase down a drive and a couple of hard rollers, to then go on the attack off the back wire:

They get the next two points to stay on the offensive in the set.

1-2, Cruz serving

They break to go up 3-1, but then they get broken.

2-3, Niculescu serving

They break again to go up 4-2.

4-2, Hanisch serving

Huge game here for both sides. At 30-30, we get a fantastic point where Cruz just refuses to yield, and Cruz/Niculescu slowly take over the advantage:

And they get the next point to break right back.

3-4, Cruz serving

Huge point at 15-30 on Cruz's serve:

Cruz refuses to fold. They get the next two points and we're back at 4-4.

4-4, Zubori serving

Every game is huge now but the pressure is on. Cruz/Niculescu get out to a 0-30 lead, but Hanisch and Zubori hang tough. They fight off one break point, but then face another with all the pressure on:

Hanisch stones a reaction volley off the return, and then Zubori goes through the legs off the wire to stay alive, before she drops the hammer to end the point.

But the pressure stays. Zubori faults twice to face two more break points, and here is the second of those two in a massive moment:

A Niculescu hammer and two let cords later, Zubori stays alive.

It just keeps going, though. They face another break point and Zubori hits a let cord, cut overhead winner (by accident, obviously).

Zubori's cut overheads do give Cruz just enough trouble to get the advantage, and finally Hanisch closes out the game with a cut overhead of her own.

4-5, Niculescu serving

At 0-15, we get a gem:

Zubori with the sliding dig, but Niculescu says, "Thank you" and ends it with the nick. Very tense point at 30-30, but Zubori pushes the overhead wide. Niculescu holds for 5-5.

5-5, Hanisch serving

Hanisch goes down 0-40 pretty quickly, but after a close serve call goes her way, gets back to 15-40.

At 15-40, we get a marathon point with textbook lobbing by Cruz/Niculescu, and surprisingly disciplined overheads by Zubori :) Ultimately, Zubori gets one she can cut, and does, to get to 30-40.

They get to deuce and then take the ad. Niculescu rips a return deep and that's the game.

5-6, Cruz serving

The pressure is building but we still haven't seen a match point yet. In the finals, they do not play a tiebreak in the third set, and instead play it out.

Zubori comes alive on the first point with the forehand winner. Then follows it up with the baby blitz.

At 0-30, Hanisch hits a clever down-the-line return, but misses the next volley.

At 15-30, the Hanisch cut overhead winner gets us double match point. But, of course, it won't be that easy.

At 15-40, Niculescu goes to the hard roller right at Hanisch to get her to move, and it pays off:

At 30-40, Zubori blitzes early and you can sense her salivating at the chance to put the match away:

But it wasn't meant to be. We head to deuce.

Cruz gets the ad and is one point away from 6-6, but Zubori tags Niculescu at net with a rocket:

Zubori can sense the opportunity now and starts flexing with blitzes on the next two points. The teams trade points, and Cruz faults with the ad due mostly to the Zubori return threat.

Hanisch hits a nice return that handcuffs Cruz to give her team a third match point. Niculescu negates it a volley. Back to deuce.

Hanisch sneaks a return down the line on Niculescu to get the ad right back. So, now this is our fourth match point!

Niculescu just says, "Nah", and keeps hitting textbook overhead rollers.

Cruz puts an overhead long to bring up the fifth (!) match point.

And finally, Hanisch/Zubori seal the deal with the point from above.

Summary

It was a really close match. Back and forth the whole way. It seemed like Hanisch/Zubori had the higher performance level at their peak, but Cruz/Niculescu were more consistent most of the match. Terrific battle.

Congratulations to Hanisch/Zubori for winning their first national championship, and congratulations to Cruz/Niculescu for an amazing tournament and textbook paddle throughout the final.