We talking about practice: Promoted to Division III, Redding County Club's tennis beasts begin to find their footing

REDDING, Conn.—"Don't look backward!" Gabriela Niculescu implored the four middle-aged men on a windswept Sunday.

The 2024 tennis season was underway at Redding Country Club, but Niculescu wasn't letting this not-always-fearsome foursome ease into play at the bucolic venue.

Not when Tim Mendola, whose pinpoint lobs have infuriated opponents and inspired paeans, instinctively glanced back at his doubles partner during a point.

Not when Ed McGrogan, new captain of Redding's Warriors—"The Beasts of the East"—couldn't help but do the same.

And certainly not given the Beasts' recent promotion into the vaunted Division III East of the Fairfield County Tennis League.

Whether they like it or not, Niculescu's men are looking forward.

As McGrogan looked forward during a crucial point of the deciding tiebreaker, his life flashed before his eyes. A giant cut from Stephan Ramirez had pushed Mendola back behind the baseline, but the living wall was still able to send the ball back from whence it came: Make them hit one more shot.

Gary Malbin, superbly positioned at net, was ready to take that shot. This was never a guarantee. Two days earlier, in an email to the Warriors, Malbin balked at the opportunity to play.

"Would like to play," Malbin wrote, "but golfing on Sunday and my racquet may not qualify."

Minutes before the quorum, according to sources in the club's locker room, Malbin believed he left his tennis shoes at home. But nevertheless, there Malbin was, large racquet cocked back, ready to terminate the point.

As the ball floated harmlessly in the air toward Malbin, McGrogan knew what was coming. After all, he himself put away a soft Phillipp Villhauer return earlier in the proceedings. Villhauer could only remark, after watching the routine winner, "That ball high enough for you?"

Don't look backward! Gabriela Niculescu, former WTA Top 200 doubles player and sister of a Wimbledon doubles finalist, to her team on Sunday.

Malbin swung, and McGrogan looked backward—just a little bit this time. Had he remained looking forward, he could have easily replied to Malbin's otherwordly mishit with a winner of his own.

Instead, Malbin's impeccably framed shot softly bounced twice, the ball hardly moving a granule of the freshly laid Har-Tru.

Point, Malbin and Ramirez, and soon after, the one-set match: 7-6 (9).

Despite the close loss, everyone came away from Sunday happier than when it started. Niculescu saw incremental improvement from the middle-aged men, albeit with some resistance. Malbin's racquet qualified. He, Ramirez and Mendola enjoyed post-match beers courtesy of McGrogan (see what you all missed?) while taking in the Masters.

And the skipper saw the start of something special.

"Ready for duty, captain," Mendola yelled to McGrogan, as the two Warriors headed to their cars.

Who else will join him?