Washuta, Willing team up to create unbeatable doubles team in city tournament

QUINCY — On June 22, Stephen Washuta beat Zach Willing in straight sets to overtake Willing as the Quincy Tennis Association men’s open city champion. As the two chatted on the bench beside Court 1 at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park following the match, Washuta had a proposal for Willing.

“I asked him, ‘Hey, you want to play doubles?’” Washuta said.

Willing did not hesitate with his response.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, you want to be partners?’” Willing said.

So, it was set.

“I was like, ‘Sweet. Let’s go,’” Washuta said.

On Sunday, Washuta and Zach Willing capped their flawless run through the QTA men’s open doubles division by beating Todd Willing and Tavi Popaluca 6-1, 6-2 and capturing their first city title together.

“Zach and I played great,” Washuta said. “It was a fun time.”

Willing said his and Washuta’s serving and volleying prowess make them a formidable doubles team.

“He has such a good serve, and then with my volleys at the net — and he has good volleys, too — we’re able to get the most important parts of doubles down,” Willing said.

Todd Willing, Zach’s father, concurred with his son.

“I knew we were going to have a tough match with those guys,” Todd Willing said. “Stephen has such a great serve, and with Zach at the net with his volleys, if you don’t hit perfect returns, you’re going to have a long day. We hit some good returns, but we just didn’t hit enough of them to really keep them off the net.”

Washuta said he and Zach Willing developed great chemistry from the get-go.

“You want to act like you have an invisible rope in between you, so like if he takes two steps to his right, I take two steps to the right,” Washuta said. “That T-line in the middle, a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, I can’t cross that,’ but if my partner goes way over there, I’m going to cover.”

Washuta and Willing moved in unison on Sunday.

“We both served well and tried to take control of the net,” Washuta said. “In doubles, whoever gets to the net quicker usually has a good chance of winning.”

As Washuta packed up his equipment after the match, he shared a hug with his son, Wave, who will turn 3 years old in August.

“The last two matches that we’ve had, he’s come over and said, ‘Good job, Dada,’” Washuta said. “It melts your heart.”

While Wave may be pre-occupied by other things, as a 2-year-old is wont to be, he is already recognizing good tennis when he sees it.

“I do have to give him credit. Todd hit a good shot, and I heard Wave say, ‘Good shot,’” Washuta said.

Wave is quite some time away from possibly joining his dad in the city tournament, but for now, Stephen Washuta and Zach Willing have formed a dynamic duo.

“One day, we’ll get Wave out here,” Washuta said.