Walker & Harrity Claim Third Century Doubles Title; Belknap Sisters Lift First

Chris Walker & Tom Harrity earned their third U.S. Century Doubles title in their third appearance together, while sisters Mary Belknap McKee & Berkley Belknap lifted their first title in their Women’s Open Century Doubles debut, January 14-16, in New York City.

The sixteenth iteration of the “Tournament of the Century”–requiring the combined age of each team to be one hundred years or greater–featured 150 players competing on seventy-five teams. The tournament was held at the University Club, Racquet & Tennis Club, New York Athletic Club, Union Club and Heights Casino.

View all results on the Century Doubles tournament page. Tournament photography is available on the US Squash SmugMug page.

Harrity & Walker returned to the Century Open division as top seeds and their second tournament appearance together with two seeds Dave Rosen & Steve Scharff opposing them in the draw. Both top seeds were pushed to five games in the semifinals. Harrity & Walker coming back from 2-1 down against Clive Leach & Alfredo Nieto to win 11-15, 15-4, 12-15, 15-13, 15-4, while Rosen & Scharff pulled through 15-13 in the fifth against Canadians David Harris & Scott Stoneburgh. In the final, Harrity & Walker clinched the title 15-10, 15-12, 15-11 in forty-eight minutes. Harrity & Walker add to their Century Open titles together in 2019 and 2020.

The Century Women’s Open final also came down to the top two seeds in the final. The top-seeded Belkap sisters progressed to the final without dropping a game, including a 3-0 semifinal win over Laura Stuto & Bry Roskoz. Two seeds Catherine VanWanderham & Seanna Keating dropped a game in their opener, but topped three seeds V. Vaughan Schmidt & Susan Greene in a three-game semifinal. The Belknaps took the final 15-6, 13-15, 15-7, 15-3 in forty-two minutes. Mary McKee Belknap adds her first women’s open title to her 2019 and 2020 Century Mixed titles.

In the Century Mixed division, top seeds William Ullman & Natalie Grainger captured the title without dropping a game, defeating two seeds Shirin Kaufman & Kevin Jernigan. Grainger celebrates her third Mixed title in addition to her 2018 and 2012 wins.

The Century Grand Champions (80+) and Century Legends (60+) divisions both produced five-game finals. Top seeds Steve Mandel & Randy Lim topped the fifteen-team Legends division, defeating surprise finalists Andrew Slater & David Adams 13-15, 15-14, 9-15, 15-12, 15-12 in an hour. Grand Champions top seeds George Brzozowski-Ryan & Yaphe Paul won both a five-game semifinal and final. The Canadians took the final in the fifth game after Andrew Muran & Tyler Thomas were forced to concede due to injury.

Century Masters (70+) four seeds James Marver & Ezekiel Scherl were the only champions to upset the seedings, defeating top seeds John Brazilian & Robert Galluccio in a three-game semifinal, and earning their first Century Doubles title 15-9, 15-6, 14-15, 15-5 in the final against Canadians Tim Griffin & Michael Laidlaw.