Jody Rush wasn't even supposed to be in the finals in the first place, not according to seedings. At the No. 8 seed, he was a long shot. Then, midway through his match in the Wendy's men's 50 National Indoor, he pulled a groin muscle.
But, the Tumwater, Wash., tennis player pulled it all together Monday at the Snowbird Canyon Racquet Club to beat No. 3 seeded Rick Fried of Honolulu, Hawaii, 6-4, 7-5.Rush was up 3-1 in the first set when he suffered the injury. When Fried came back to tie it at 4-all, Rush took an injury timeout, wrapped his leg and returned to the court.
In the men's 45 singles, newcomer Ash Mitha of Kirkland, Wash., made an impression on his peers. The unseeded player beat No. 3 seeded David Nash, Edina, Minn., 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-2.
In doubles, David Bryant, Oklahoma City, and Peter Bronson, Scottsdale, Ariz., won the men's 45 doubles, 6-2, 6-2, over Ray Lake, Kansas City, Kan., and Bob Litwin, Port Washington, N.Y.
Later, Rush returned with partner Dick Johnson, St. Louis, to beat Fred Drilling of Betheede, Md., and Robyn Ray of Newport Beach, Calif., 6-2, 6-3.