McGuire represented at AF International Tennis Tournament

Published Oct. 7, 2008
By 6th Airlift Squadron

McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Capts. Chris and Greg Zielinski, both with the 6th Airlift Squadron, recently participated in the Component Command Air Headquarters Ramstein Air Force International Tennis Tournament Sept. 9-12 in Amsterdam.

The twin brothers posted a 4-0 record as the doubles team, helping Team USA earn first place at the event hosted by the Royal Netherlands Air Force at the Amstel Park Sports Complex in Amsterdam.

The six-nation event included six Air Force tennis teams selected from the U.S., Belgium, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The "Davis Cup" format consisted of two singles matches and one doubles match per contest.

In the round-robin phase, the U.S. Air Force team got off to a slow start losing to Belgium 2-1, with the Zielinski brothers earning the only win in the doubles match. However, after sweeping the Netherlands in the next match 3-0, Team USA earned a spot in the semifinals against the UK.

Against the UK, 1st Lt. Trevor Johnson, Grand Forks AFB, N.D., and Robert Alexander, Ramstein AB, Germany, won both of their singles matches 6-2, 6-3 and 6-1, 6-2 respectively, while the Zielinski twins completed the sweep with a 6-2, 6-4 win in the doubles match.

In the finals, the U.S. continued their winning ways with a 3-0 sweep of Poland. Lieutenant Alexander ousted Rafal Bralkowski 6-0, 6-1, Lieutenant Johnson stopped Jurny Lukasz 6-2, 6-4, and the Zielinski brothers topped Tomasz Peda and Waldemar Banchowics 6-2, 6-0.

The complete U.S. Air Force men's tennis team included: Capt. Jason Anderson, Dyess AFB, Texas; Capt. Phil Yim, San Diego, Calif.; Capt. Chris Zielinski, 6th AS; Capt. Greg Zielinski, 6th AS; 2nd Lt. Robert Alexander, Ramstein AFB, Germany; and 1st Lt. Trevor Johnson, Grand Forks AFB, N.D. The next international Air Force tennis event is slated for 2010.