By Georgia Ong (26S03O), Kunchur Bharat (26A01B) and Tomi Peh (26S06P)
They didn’t expect to win this year. In fact, speaking to the squad beforehand, defeat seemed almost inevitable to the team. After successfully ending a 9-year-long drought with a win the previous year, the stakes were high once again this year–a chance to defend the title, start a winning streak of our own, and cement RI’s reputation as the winners of a bitter rivalry between two schools.
The Stakes
1 finale — one final showdown for the 2025 A Division Boys’ Season.
2 teams — ACSI and RI — teams that have been going head-to-head in the finals for the last decade.
3 sets per match — 2 to win a match point. Every set won was a step closer to reaching victory.
5 matches total — 3 single matches, 2 double matches with a total of 7 players on each team.
Pre-match Interviews
Raffles Press had the exclusive opportunity to chat with the team after their last training session before the finals on 21st May. Although they were visibly exhausted and dripping with sweat after their training, the boys still spoke with a strangely calm demeanour when discussing the finals.
“We have nothing to lose. So we’re just going to play our best and have fun out there.”
Theodore Koh Zhekai (26S06L)
Probing deeper into why they felt this way, the players acknowledged just how outmatched they were by their opponents. ACS(I) had won all their matches until this point and the odds were admittedly stacked against the RI squad. Yet, this did not seem to bother them. It was as if the players had already made peace with the tough fight that lay ahead of them the next week.
The secret behind this serenity and what shone through the most obviously was just how connected the squad was. Having trained together, fought together, and even lost together since Year 1, they were prepared to weather any result–together. While the players could not divulge any specifics about their strategy for the day itself, it was apparent to us that ultimately, their camaraderie would either see them through to another victory or provide them with comfort after a loss.
Put aptly by the captain himself:
“There’s a lot of pressure, in the sense that we [Year 6’s] won’t get another chance. But, the most important thing is the community we built here, where we can essentially have a family which we can rely on in the future. No matter what troubles we face, we have this support group that we can lean back on.”
Brandon Lim (25S03G), outgoing RI Boys’ Tennis Captain
Game-Day
21st May. Supporters from ACS(I) and RI took to the stands as the two teams took in the feeling of a new, surreal, air-conditioned playing field. This was a new environment for the players. An indoor court meant there were no external conditions affecting the matches, yet the feeling remained the same as all the other matches; the burning desire to win, the trepidation of performing for a riled up crowd, and the pressure of performing at one’s best. Despite winning last year, RI went into this matchup as the underdogs, tense and alert. ACS(I) was a strong prevailing team, boasting multiple national-level players on their roster.
Tensions were high as the players took to their sides of the court. It was time for the first doubles, as well as first and second singles, which took place concurrently.
First Singles: David Yong (RI) vs Ethan Wong (ACSI)
Playing on the right court, RI’s only national team player stood ready to secure a first win for the RI team. David, invigorated by the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers, played with the precision and skill that one would expect from RI’s best-ranked player. Although he had a rocky start, conceding the first point of the first set to his opponent, he quickly recovered, tied the score and held onto the subsequent lead with a vise grip.
It was an unrelenting match. With every blindingly fast serve and unfathomably quick return in this fierce battle, it was clear that David was in his element and the distinction between instincts and training began to blur. At the end of this fiery blitz, made complete by many raucous cheers and exclamations of reassurance from both the student supporters and other members of the team, David emerged victorious. Now, it was left to be seen if his teammates could continue the streak.
RI: 1, ACS(I): 0
Second Singles: Yeo Shan Jae (RI) vs Phay Kai Chuen (ACSI)
The second singles’ match was played in the centre court. With all the supporters laser-focused on the matches in the left and right courts, this match was quieter, with an eerie silence as each player fought for points. Every bounce of the ball, every shot sent across the length of the court; each hit was a calculated attack—one that would send the opponent running for the ball.
Both the players tore across the court, with the occasional “let’s go Kai” or “let’s go Shan Jae” spurring them on. The two players were locked onto securing the match point. There was palpable tension whenever the ball hit Shan Jae’s side court—another point to his opponent. Nevertheless, Shan Jae put up a valiant fight against his opponent, chasing after every ball sent in his direction.
The hits got stronger, and the balls flew faster—there was a ball that flew into David’s court—Shan Jae battled to send the back back across the court. Putting up a hard fight, the match concluded with Kai taking the point.
ACSI 1, RI 1.
First Doubles: Brandon Lim and Evan Yeo (RI) vs Nigel Chen and Ethan Chan (ACS(I))
The doubles were the first to kick off the matches. Intense serves flew to both ends of the court, low and fast, and both pairs were seemingly equally matched, with great returns. Both pairs played strategically and each positioning of the ball, each movement of the foot was precise and calculated, even one misstep could lead to a lost point.
Subsequently, players started to falter slightly, as there was an ever-so-slight increase in serve faults, perhaps due to the players’ exhaustion. Brandon and Evan pulled each other up, discussing tactics to use in their rallies, reassuring each other after each hit. However, spurred on by the crowd’s ever constant cheers and chants, Brandon and Evan refused to back down without a fight, taking back two games of the first and second sets.
Third Singles: Theodore (RI) vs Min Jie (ACS(I))
Murmurs rippled across the RI stands as the duo took to the courts—RI’s player was up against ACSI’s top player.
There was a degree of clinicality as the duo prepared to play. Min Jie got into stance, legs spread out, ready to lunge in any direction. Twirling his racket in anticipation, he waited on Theodore, whose arm was raised, ready to release the ball. The ball sliced through the air, and the two players sprung into action. They ran across the court, sending the ball back and forth until a point was taken.
Every move was calculated. Min Jie quickly racked up points as the match progressed, his hand always prepared to send the ball back to Theodore. But there was a moment when the ball hit the net. It was on Min Jie’s side. The RI crowd erupted—Theodore took a point.
Despite Theodore’s commendable effort, it was still too late, as the match concluded 1 to 6. ACSI gains another match point.
Second Doubles: Ethan Ho and Mitch Phua (RI) vs Anand Suresh and Nicholas Lim (ACS(I))
Unfortunately, at this point both the supporters and the players had to confront the bitter reality of the day. Having already lost 3 matches to ACS(I), it was the end. However, the knowledge of defeat served no use to the second doubles pair, and so they cast it aside for a moment. Ringing true to what had been said during their interview before the finals, the result did not matter nearly as much as how they carried themselves on the court and knowing that they gave everything they had. Hence, this meant trying their hardest despite the overall loss, not only out of respect for their opponent but for themselves as well.
And their effort was visible, as was their chemistry. Dapping each other up regardless of whether a point was won or lost, the silent expressions of encouragement that they shot at each other after an error, and the way that they almost seamlessly played off of each other were all telling of the deep bond between them that started all the way back in 2021.
While they were unsuccessful at securing a victory, they were not easy opponents to beat, to the point that one of the ACS(I) players threw his racket up in the air out of frustration after losing a point. The match was also made particularly memorable by a ball flying into the crowd and the series of exhilarating service aces that were truly a sight to behold.
Final score — RI: 1; ACS(I): 4
Post-Match Reflections
There were two salient points that came up during our post-match interviews with the players.
One, the team’s change in perspective towards the finals.
“We were too comfortable with the fact that we could lose.”
Ethan Ho (26S06I), Second Doubles
From their initial belief that they weren’t going to win, the team reflected that it didn’t bode well for them as they went into the finals. Being scared to lose could have given them the drive, pushed them to want to win, to continue fighting to keep RI’s winning streak. Despite the multiple “sure-win” ACS(I) players putting forth the team’s way, the RI players being too expectant of a loss meant that they could have done much better. Admittedly, while there was also finals’ pressure, players like Ethan and Shan Jae both noted that there were practice sessions where they played better.
Nevertheless, what shone more was the maturity the players had in accepting the results of their hard-fought NSG journey, and acknowledging everything that had helped them get to this stage. The entire team was immensely grateful for everyone who had come down to support them during the finals, finding comfort in the fact that their friends and families were present for their big day.
The team thanking the supporters after the finals.
Additionally, the team recognised their hard work put into this NSG season, where they had given their all in their training. The outgoing captain, Brandon, also expressed his pride for the team, sharing that he hoped his juniors would “keep pushing” as they prepared for the next NSG season.
“It’s not all about winning or losing, the view at the mountaintop is so nice because of the journey you took to reach there.”
Brandon Lim (25S03G), outgoing RI Boys’ Tennis Captain
All in all, although the tennis team came to terms with the inevitable, they still vied for gold, a true showing of their dedication. We could not have been prouder of the immense dedication and drive they put into preparing for their season. Congratulations, boys!
A group picture of the team after the Finals.
Tennis Boys’ – Finals Line-Up
First Singles – Yong Yew Chin, David (25S06N)
Second Singles – Yeo Shan Jae (26A01B)
Third Singles – Theodore Koh Zhekai (26S06L)
First Doubles – Brandon Lim Jit Ern (25S03G) [Captain], Yeo Zhen Xuan Evan (25S06E)
Second Doubles – Ho Hong Zheng Ethan (26S06I), Mitch Phua Zhi Wei (26S03K)
