By J. Fred Sidhu, special to USTA.com
 
LA JOLLA, Calif. – It’s been said that timing is everything. For unseeded Peter Markes of Austin, Texas, it was the difference between winning and losing at the International Tennis Federation Senior World Individual Championships.
 
On a sunny, breezy day at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, the hard-serving Markes raised the level of his game when he needed it the most and he ousted seventh-seeded Eddie Myers of Australia, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to advance to the fourth round of the Men’s 50 division.
 
Playing on Court 14, the 53-year-old Markes, who considers himself a serve and volley player, won the first set when Myers netted a backhand service return on set point. The American looked poised to win the match in straight sets as he jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the second set.
 
However, Myers had other ideas as he held serve to cut Markes’ lead to 4-3. In the eighth game, he hit a cross court, backhand passing shot to break serve and tie the set at 4-4. Myers then held serve to take a 5-4 lead and in the next game and he would break Markes and win the set to even the match.
 
At 2-2 in the third set, Markes scored a critical service break as he slammed a down the line passing shot on break point to take a 3-2 lead.
 
Markes, who works in sales for an industrial supply company, took control of the third set as he held serve and then broke Myers’ serve again when the Aussie sent a down the line backhand wide on break point.
 
At 5-2 in the third set, the last game would be one of the most entertaining of the match as Markes used his serve and volley game to pressure Myers and earn two match points. Myers not only fought off both match points, but had two break points against Markes. 
 
After erasing both break points against his serve, Markes reached his third match point of the game with a forehand volley winner and went on to close out the match with a perfectly executed forehand down the line winner.
 
"Obviously Eddie was seeded, so I came in knowing I was going have a tough match on my hands," Markes said after his third-round victory. "He’s a very good returner, so I had to serve really well. He put a lot of pressure on my serve."
 
Markes, a native of Prague, Czech Republic, credited his intensity for helping him win the match. "I kept my intensity up. It slipped a little bit in the second set," he said. "I realized that this guy is not a pushover and I need to fight on every point. Once I did that, it became a lot easier."
 
In other tournament action at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, third-seeded Mike Fedderly of the United States moved into the fourth round of the Men’s 50 division with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) third-round victory over fellow American Jon Tyrell.
 
Tournament admission to watch the matches is free and open to the public. On-site parking is available at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club for a nominal fee. There is no charge to park at other tournament venues.
 
For the most current draws and results for the 2012 ITF Seniors World Individual Championships, go to: www.itftennis.com/seniors
 
The 32nd ITF Seniors World Individual Championships (Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles) is being played at the following locations:

• Men’s 50s, 55s; Women’s 45s and Mixed Doubles 45s – La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club & La Jolla Tennis Club, La Jolla, Calif.
• Men’s 35s, 40s; Women’s 35s and Mixed Doubles 35s – La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, Calif.
• Men’s 45s, Women’s 40s and Mixed Doubles 40s – Morgan Run Club & Resort, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
• Women’s 50s, 55s and Mixed Doubles 50s, 55s – San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club, San Diego, Calif.