Keeping it in the family: Quinteros win women’s city doubles title, while Willing replaces son on men’s title team

QUINCY — The absence of reigning Quincy Tennis Association city doubles champions Zach Willing and Ethan Arns opened the door for new champions.

Willing’s father, Todd, paired with Tavi Popaluca and took advantage of the opportunity Saturday to step back into the winner’s circle, besting Anthony Becker and Curtis Fauble in the final round-robin match 6-3, 2-6, 11-9 at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. 

Todd Willing won an open doubles title with Zach Willing in 2019 and has won 15 city doubles titles overall, including 11 straight from 2000-10. He also has won four city singles championships.

Willing and Popaluca trailed 6-2 in the 10-point tiebreak in the final match, but won the next three points and nine of the next 12 to rally for the victory. The duos entered their match as the only two at 2-0 in the four-team round robin.

In the women’s open championship, the mother-daughter duo of Theresa and Lia Quintero also stormed back from a deficit to capture the title. The Quinteros trailed 4-1 in the first set but only lost two games the rest of the match en route to a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Anika Reddy and Paige Beckler.

Theresa Quintero won open doubles championships with Heidi Holzgrafe in 2021 and 2023 and is a two-time singles champion. Lia Quintero won the city singles championship in 2021.

In the men’s 3.5 doubles championship match, Sam Avery and Randy Davis came back to beat Mike and Tim O’Neal 1-6, 6-1, 12-10.

Kristi Stegeman and Claire Peterson won the women’s 3.5 division title by going 2-0 in round robin play. They defeated Kasey DeStefane and Aubrielle Krigbaum 7-5, 6-3, in round 1 and topped Carrie Nudd and Silvia Squillaci 6-4, 6-2 in round 3.

Jacob Damm and Damian Mason did not drop a set in three round robin matches to win the 14 and under championship.

Joseph Damm and Nathan Steinkamp defeated Auggie Holzgrafe and Riley Beckler 7-6, 1-6, 10-8, in the only match in the 12 and under division.

The men’s 4.0 championship match between the tandems of Surya Reddy-Ethan Stark and Rob Hernandez-Barney Bier will be played at 10 a.m. Sunday.