Melandro, Shah Come Back to Win Nassau County Doubles Title
After losing the first set in the Nassau County Doubles Championship, Syosset’s Nikhil Shah & Devan Melandro knew they had to change something up as they battled Friends Academy’s Alistair Wright & Russell Notaris with the title on the line.
“We started playing more doubles tennis, and got aggressive at the net,” said Shah. “We knew we weren’t going to beat them by standing at the baseline and crosscourt rallying. The mentality was, you know what, they won the first set but it’s a whole new match now.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE FINAL ROUNDS OF THE 2023 NASSAU COUNTY INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
That mentality would turn out to be crucial, as Shah & Melandro came back to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to claim the county title, and secure their spot in this weekend’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Individual Championships.
“As soon as we went down 1-2 in the second set, we completely flipped the script,” added Melandro. “We got so much more aggressive, we made more balls, and everything just changed. My forehand was able to click a little bit more, and once we did get into those baseline rallies, I felt so much more confident.”
Shah, a freshman, said his sophomore partner was the difference in the deciding third set:
“Devon was amazing in that third set. It’s the best I’ve seen him play.”
The duo has developed a chemistry over the last few years, competing both with and against each other during Syosset practices, which went a long way not only with their play on the court, but the ability to communicate and not get too high or low during a match.
“He knows where I’m going to serve and where he needs to be to put it away, and the other way around,” said Shah. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and are able to pick each other up when we get down. I think that’s what really makes us a good doubles team.”
The pairing now prepares for a busy week ahead. They will return to the court on Wednesday afternoon to battle against Commack in the Long Island Large School Team Championship, before heading to Flushing Meadows to compete in the NYSPHSAA Individual Championships this weekend at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE FINAL ROUNDS OF THE 2023 NASSAU COUNTY INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
“After all this, we’re feeling so confident. Just happy that we were able to be resilient and pull through,” said Melandro. “We were down four match points in the second round in this tournament, and down a set here in the final, and were able to find a way, which really gives us confidence.”
Nassau County Individual Doubles Finalists: Friends Academy’s Alistair Wright & Russell Notaris
Wright & Notaris will be heading to the NYSPHSAA tournament to represent Nassau County, as will Great Neck South’s Carter Shea & Ayush Shroff, who defeated Jericho’s Brian Berger & Anish Pylla in the third-place match.
Nassau County Individual Doubles Third-Place Finishers: Great Neck South’s Carter Shea & Ayush Shroff
