Milwaukee, WI, WPH Press, 11/16/15- Seventh-ranked WPH Race 4 Eight pro and 2015 WPH R48 Rookie of the Year claimed the 2015 Wisconsin State Singles title in Milwaukee, WI at the Wisconsin Athletic Club, defeating his former nemesis Nik Nahorniak for the first time in the final.
Cordova overcame hometown favorite and 18th ranked R48 pro Anthony “The Giant Killer” in the semifinals, while Nahorniak outlasted Blaze Selestow in the other semifinal.
The 2015 WPH R48 Rookie of the Year dominated game one of the final against the 2014 WPH 3WallBall Small Ball Pro Singles and Doubles Champion, taking a huge lead and closing out the game 21-9. “I was able to keep him (Nik) out of his comfort zone with hops during the rally,” stated D. Cordova. “The hops kept him off-balance most of the time and that was a huge advantage for me.”
Nahorniak stormed back in game two to force a tiebreaker, adjusting to Cordova’s hops and executing long-range two-handed offense to even the match at one game apiece. Cordova seized control early in the tiebreaker, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and never looking back. Cordova claimed the title 21-9, 14-21, 11-3.
“Daniel hadn’t played Nik in about a year and he’s about 10 times better now than he was the last time they played,” stated Daniel Cordova’s brother and coach Luis Cordova. “The experience Daniel gained in the last year on the R48 tour has made a huge difference in his game.”
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David Fink
WPH Senior Writer