By: Ken Weingartner
He doesn’t have a powerful serve or a booming forehand, but Darren Goldberg has continually beaten his opponents into submission on the tennis court this season.
Just ask his teammates.
Goldberg was 9-0 at third singles entering Thursday’s match against Sayreville. A junior, he wasn’t even being counted upon to crack the varsity lineup, but played his way into the third singles spot in the preseason by beating five other Falcons.
He has done it all with brains over brawn, slicing balls at difficult angles all over the court until he forces his foe out of position or into making a mistake.
"My style is very unique," Goldberg said. "I try to make sure I have the opportunity to win each point by hitting the ball to good spots. After matches, the guys I’m playing usually say that’s the most running they’ve ever done in a match."
Goldberg has been playing tennis for about 10 years. When he started out, he was taught to hit with slice rather than topspin, and he has continued to play that way to this day.
"I became more confident hitting with slice," Goldberg said. "It’s worked for me, but I don’t think it would work for everybody. The best shot you can use is topspin. I can hit with topspin when I have to, but I’m used to hitting with slice."
Goldberg has yet to play three sets this season. In fact, since going to a tiebreaker in his first set of the year against JFK’s Viral Patel, no one has won more than three games in a set against him. Patel, it should be noted, has gone unbeaten since losing to Goldberg.
"Players aren’t expecting my style, they’re expecting hard-hitting topspin players," Goldberg said. "I just do everything I can to get the ball back. If my opponent has a good serve, and I hit it back, I just love seeing the shock on their face. It’s not a hard hit, it’s just getting the ball back to them when they didn’t expect it to come back."
Making Goldberg’s success all the more gratifying has been the prosperity enjoyed by the Falcons as a team. Monroe was 7-2 going into Thursday’s action.
"When we win 3-2, you know you were one of the guys that helped," Goldberg said. "Each win is special and unique. Every time I win, I just get more confident."
Monroe picked up its sixth win by beating South Plainfield 5-0 Monday. In addition to Goldberg’s win, the Falcons got victories from Ken Stanley and Kris Worman at singles and the doubles teams of Justin Bauman-Kevin Houle and Nick Carofilis-Ashish Patel.
On Wednesday, the same lineup produced a 5-0 triumph over Carteret.
After playing Sayreville yesterday, the Falcons begin their second time through the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division when they face Bishop Ahr Monday. Goldberg is confident he can continue his success even though his opponents now will be aware of his playing style.
"I think they’ll be ready for me, but I’m just going to play my game," he said. "I think it can work again. Even though they’re expecting it, they don’t face it all the time and I don’t think they’ll know how to break it. And I can change my style and use more topspin if the situation calls for it."
If he can continue his winning ways, Goldberg should receive a good seed at third singles for the GMC Tournament, which begins May 5.
"I’m looking forward to it and hope I can do well," Goldberg said. "That would be amazing. I haven’t seen a lot of those players that will be in the tournament and they’re coming from some prestigious tennis schools. I’m excited to play them."
One gets the feeling, though, that his opponents won’t share his excitement.

