Ex-girls basketball coach wins second straight city tennis title
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Andrew Laker | The Republic
Dana Scott hits a forehand shot to her opponent, Ann Keaton, in the 2012 Columbus City Open women%u2019s open singles championship match Tuesday at Columbus North High School. The former Indian Creek High School girls basketball coach won in two sets.
Dana Scott was too humble to think her victory over her friend, Ann Keaton, crowned her champion of local women’s tennis.
She knew better.
“I just won this tournament,” said Scott, a former high school basketball coach at Indian Creek.
“There’s a lot of good talent in Columbus. Let’s just say that.”
But Keaton, 46, didn’t hesitate to label Scott, 51, the best. Scott had, after all, entered the women’s open division of the city tourney and won, beating Keaton 6-3, 6-1 in a rain-delayed Tuesday final to capture her second straight title.
“Yeah,” Keaton said. “She is (the champion).”
Scott built a 3-2 advantage before pulling away to a 5-2 lead and then a 6-3 win in the first set. She went up 3-0 in the second set before rain soaked the Columbus North courts, moving play to the Tipton Lakes Athletic Club.
“I was ready for a break,” Scott said. “I had a grueling match last night. So I had a chance to regroup.”
After about a 30-minute delay, Scott went back to work, taking the next two games to establish a 5-0 advantage in the second set.
It was close to game, set and match, but Scott, who owns an apparel decorating business, had no thought of easing up.
“I knew (Keaton) came back last night after being down 5-0,” Scott said. “So I really tried to focus in those last two games.”
Keaton broke Scott in the sixth game of the second set, putting together a moral victory in a match that was meant to be fun regardless.
Scott, who’s only been playing for two years, and Keaton, in the sport for just nine months, simply enjoyed the competition.
Keaton jokingly called Scott “mean” after a winner early in the second set. A few games later, Scott waited patiently after Keaton bloodied her lip by smacking herself with her racket.
They both laughed it off.
Keaton complimented Scott’s consistency, calling her a human backboard.
“She always gets it back,” Keaton said.
Scott said Keaton’s athleticism has helped her become a competitive player in less than a year.
“She just covers the court very well,” Scott said. “There’s a lot of shots I hit that would normally be winners that she hit back.”
Scott and Keaton already are making plans to play doubles together next year.
“I like to compete, and I hate to lose,” Scott said.
The city tourney wraps up today with the men’s singles and doubles finals.
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