Wheelchair Tennis : Snow Wins Fifth Title in Six Years

As Randy Snow wheeled toward the net after his 6-2, 7-5 victory over Rick Slaughter in the U.S. Wheelchair Tennis Championships final Sunday, he thrust five fingers skyward and let out a scream.

The crowd at the Racquet Club of Irvine understood Snow’s gesture and cheered as the Fresno resident celebrated his fifth singles title in six years at the U.S.’s most prestigious wheelchair tournament.

“Of the five, this one ranks second,” Snow said. “I lost to Brad Parks in the final last year, so this one felt great.”

Snow, seeded second, overpowered Slaughter with his serve and ground strokes in the first set. The second set appeared to be a repeat of the first as Snow quickly won three of the first four games.

But Slaughter started playing well, and won four of the next six games. Snow found himself serving, tied at 5-5. In the next game, Snow and Slaughter battled through 16 points before Snow hit a cross-court winner to end it. He then held serve to win the set, 7-5.

“Ricky really scared me the way he came back like that,” Snow said. “He shifted the momentum. I really wanted that game at 5-5 because I didn’t want to go into a tiebreaker.”

Slaughter, who has been in and out of the hospital the past week because of kidney problems, said his illness did not hinder him.

“I just didn’t play well and Randy hit the shots when he needed them,” Slaughter said. “ I’m going home to Nashville to rest, and I’m not going to play tennis for about two months.”

Snow reached the final after defeating Chip Parmelly, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, in a semifinal match Saturday. Parmelly had three match points but was unable to win. Slaughter advanced by defeating Park, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.