When identical twins Zach and Jon Pine of Vienna played Monday morning in the USTA National Boys 16s Clay Court Championships, there was little to tell them apart.
Same white outfit. Same white hat. Same sweatband on the right wrist. Same Prince socks and shoes. Same Babolat racquet. Both even had the same fiery demeanor, admonishing themself on virtually every lost point.
The only differences were Jon’s two-fisted forehand and shirt collar, and the final results.
While Zach defeated Billy McCall of Woodside, Calif., 6-2, 6-3, at Indian Spring Country Club in Silver Spring, Jon fell to Eric Spector of Northbrook, Ill., 6-3, 6-3, at nearby Norbeck Country Club.
It was another chapter in a sometimes-uncomfortable alliance of highly competitive twins. Zach is ranked No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic section while Jon is No. 5. This spring they played No. 2 and 3 singels, respectively, for Virginia Independent School champion Flint Hill Prep. When they play in sectional tournaments, they often face each other, much to their dismay.
“We’d rather not play each other,” said Zach. “We usually switch off, work on something different. Like I’ll stay on the baseline, and he’ll play serve and volley. That way, we don’t argue. We’re just playing for fun.”
This year the Pine brothers have met seven times in tournaments, including earlier this month in the quarterfinals of the USTA National Open in New Jersey. Zach won and advanced to the finals, but took little pleasure from it.
“It would be nice if they could be on the opposite side of the draw every tournament,” said Chuck Pine, their father. “When they play each other, it’s tough on both of them, regardless of who wins.”
The only facial difference between the twins is a scar on Zach’s forehead. At a rest stop in Pennsylvania the boys were playing 3-on-3 football with a tennis ball when Zach caught a pass and ran into a stop sign. The wound required 40 stitches and Zach earned a subtle identification mark.
Zach made it through Monday’s round of 128 unscathed, putting away McCall with little trouble. Using pinpoint control of his backhand and forehand, and coming to the net when opportunities arose, Pine won the first five games.
Then the heat took a toll on both players. During one stretch, the player on the shaded side of the court won 11 straight games. But late in the second set, Pine broke the trend and broke McCall’s will.
After his match, Zach and his father, drove to Norbeck to watch the final set of Jon’s match. After Jon lost the final point, he slammed his hat into the net, but the defeat was nothing to be ashamed of. He fell to the tournament’s No. 9 seed. Now it is Zach’s turn to wade into the deep end of the talent pool. Today he will face 17th seeded Joel Samaha of Tampa.
Serve and volley
» Of the 32 seeded players in the 18s, 16 are ranked in the nation’s top 30, including the national No. 1 Attila Bucko of West Palm Beach, who is seeded No. 2 behind Marcus Fugate of Fairport, N.Y.
» In the 16s, 17 of the nation’s top 30 players are in the tournament, including top-seeded Brennan Boyajian, who is ranked No. 2 in the USTA 16s.
» Past winners of the tournament include John McEnroe, James Blake and locals Paul Goldstein and Harold Solomon.
