PRO TEAM TENNIS : Raleigh Ruins Dukes’ Home Opener

Orange County waited seven years for the return of Team Tennis.

It waited some more Thursday night at the Newport Beach Dukes’ home opener against the Raleigh Edge at the John Wayne Tennis Club.

The Dukes and the Edge, two new franchises, were still playing four hours after they began. Raleigh eventually won, 27-23.

Beth Herr and Shaun Stafford of Raleigh defeated Sophie Amiach and Amy Frazier of the Dukes, 6-3, in the deciding women’s doubles set.

Amiach and Frazier trailed, 4-2, but won the seventh game and appeared to have control. But Herr and Stafford settled down and won the set.

The teams were tied, 15-15, after three sets, but Tim Wilkison of Raleigh beat Roger Smith, 6-5 (5-1), for a 21-20 lead heading into the final set.

Only about half of the original crowd of 800 remained as the final set began.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Dukes Coach Greg Patton said. “Midway through the match, I realized every point is so important.”

The Dukes lost two tiebreakers and that, coupled with the loss in the women’s doubles, was too much to overcome.

“I really like what I see on our team,” Patton said. “I’m real excited. There’s no doubt it’s exciting tennis. I didn’t realize it would go so long.”

Patton, who still hasn’t settled on a lineup, also said, “We need to get some matches under our belts. I’ve got to learn the best way to use our guys.”

Raleigh made its debut with a 26-19 loss to the Los Angeles Strings Wednesday night.

In the opening mixed doubles set, Marty Davis and Amiach fell to Herr and Tim Pawsat, 6-4. Herr and Pawsat broke Davis for a 5-4 lead, then went on to win with Pawsat serving.

That was the biggest lead of the match for either team.

Frazier’s 6-3 victory over Stafford, a former University of Florida All-American, pushed the Dukes into the lead, 10-9. But Pawsat and Tim Wilkison defeated Davis and Smith, 6-5 (5-2), to tie the score, 15-15, heading into the final two sets.

The Dukes play Miami Beach at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the John Wayne Tennis Club.