Never in the world did 40-year-old Jerry Albrikes of Mystic think he was going to waltz into Philadelphia last weekend and win the national platform tennis championship.He had been playing with his partner less than a year.

He had been playing with his partner less than a year.He lacked experience against the best players in the sport.

He lacked experience against the best players in the sport.He and his partner had never beaten a team in the Top 10.

He and his partner had never beaten a team in the Top 10.And, though Albrikes would never use it as an excuse, there was that cancer thing to consider.

And, though Albrikes would never use it as an excuse, there was that cancer thing to consider.But Albrikes and his partner, 32-year-old Johan Durandt of Newton, Mass., swept through the field last weekend, beating out about 120 other teams to win seven straight matches and the national championship. In the final, they blasted through the eight-time national champions Flip Goodspeed and Scott Mansager, losing a close first set but carrying the day at 6-1, 6-0 in the final frames.

But Albrikes and his partner, 32-year-old Johan Durandt of Newton, Mass., swept through the field last weekend, beating out about 120 other teams to win seven straight matches and the national championship. In the final, they blasted through the eight-time national champions Flip Goodspeed and Scott Mansager, losing a close first set but carrying the day at 6-1, 6-0 in the final frames."It was pretty amazing," said Albrikes, head pro at Mystic Indoor Tennis and the former No. 1 tennis player in New England. "My partner and I never thought we could win. We'd never beaten one of the Top 10 teams, but we beat four of the top 11 teams in one tournament."

"It was pretty amazing," said Albrikes, head pro at Mystic Indoor Tennis and the former No. 1 tennis player in New England. "My partner and I never thought we could win. We'd never beaten one of the Top 10 teams, but we beat four of the top 11 teams in one tournament."While Albrikes has won major regional tennis tournaments before, and finished with a No. 1 ranking in New England in 2003, he considers the platform-tennis crown his biggest thrill.

While Albrikes has won major regional tennis tournaments before, and finished with a No. 1 ranking in New England in 2003, he considers the platform-tennis crown his biggest thrill. Platform tennis is basically a miniature version of tennis played outside during the colder months using composite paddles and rubber balls that are batted about a screened-in 60-foot by 30-foot enclosure in which shots often must be played off the walls. Unlike in tennis, doubles competition is the highlight of platform tennis tournaments.

Platform tennis is basically a miniature version of tennis played outside during the colder months using composite paddles and rubber balls that are batted about a screened-in 60-foot by 30-foot enclosure in which shots often must be played off the walls. Unlike in tennis, doubles competition is the highlight of platform tennis tournaments."This was the Super Bowl of platform tennis. ... 400 to 500 people were watching," Albrikes said, comparing the experience to a big sectional tennis tournament in which the final might attract a handful of spectators. "Everyone who plays paddle knows who the national champion is."

"This was the Super Bowl of platform tennis. ... 400 to 500 people were watching," Albrikes said, comparing the experience to a big sectional tennis tournament in which the final might attract a handful of spectators. "Everyone who plays paddle knows who the national champion is."Albrikes' performance was particularly amazing considering that he lost half of his previous season to two surgeries and follow-up radiation for a cancerous sarcoma in his neck.

Albrikes' performance was particularly amazing considering that he lost half of his previous season to two surgeries and follow-up radiation for a cancerous sarcoma in his neck.Team forms

Team forms"The whole right side of his body turned purple" after the radiation, recalled Rob Coster of Madison, president of the New England section of the American Platform Tennis Association. "He could barely talk, because the surgery was in the vocal chord area."

"The whole right side of his body turned purple" after the radiation, recalled Rob Coster of Madison, president of the New England section of the American Platform Tennis Association. "He could barely talk, because the surgery was in the vocal chord area."After last season, Albrikes and his partner of five years decided to break up. Coincidentally, Durandt's partner bowed out about the same time, and he called Albrikes to team up, despite the Mystic resident's health woes.

After last season, Albrikes and his partner of five years decided to break up. Coincidentally, Durandt's partner bowed out about the same time, and he called Albrikes to team up, despite the Mystic resident's health woes.They've been playing together in tournaments only since the platform-tennis season started last November. Yet, by the time the national championships came around, they already were the No. 1 team in New England - though only the 16th seed in the tournament.

They've been playing together in tournaments only since the platform-tennis season started last November. Yet, by the time the national championships came around, they already were the No. 1 team in New England - though only the 16th seed in the tournament."He's more like the steady guy," Durandt said of Albrikes. "I'm wilder and crazier; he's consistent and patient."

"He's more like the steady guy," Durandt said of Albrikes. "I'm wilder and crazier; he's consistent and patient."While top teams in the past have played a chess game, waiting for their opponents to make mistakes, Albrikes and Durandt use their athletic prowess to much greater effect, hitting many more winners than most teams.

While top teams in the past have played a chess game, waiting for their opponents to make mistakes, Albrikes and Durandt use their athletic prowess to much greater effect, hitting many more winners than most teams."They've taken the sport to a different level," said Coster, a member of the Essex Paddle Tennis Club who attended all of Albrikes' final matches.

"They've taken the sport to a different level," said Coster, a member of the Essex Paddle Tennis Club who attended all of Albrikes' final matches. Durandt, a South African-born tennis pro at Bosse Sports in Sudbury, Mass., is an even more skilled tennis player than Albrikes, having been ranked as high as No. 330 in the world. Some people refer to Durandt as the Roger Federer of platform tennis in recognition of his lightning reflexes and skilled shot-making.

Durandt, a South African-born tennis pro at Bosse Sports in Sudbury, Mass., is an even more skilled tennis player than Albrikes, having been ranked as high as No. 330 in the world. Some people refer to Durandt as the Roger Federer of platform tennis in recognition of his lightning reflexes and skilled shot-making.But Albrikes, who plays at Essex Platform Tennis Club, has mastered the mental side of the game, Durandt said.

But Albrikes, who plays at Essex Platform Tennis Club, has mastered the mental side of the game, Durandt said."He never slacks off. He has no lapses," he said. "I sometimes get disinterested. He keeps me calm. ... He's taught me a lot about playing simple shots and waiting for the right time to go for bigger shots."

"He never slacks off. He has no lapses," he said. "I sometimes get disinterested. He keeps me calm. ... He's taught me a lot about playing simple shots and waiting for the right time to go for bigger shots."Albrikes used to be more of an offensive player until he teamed up with Durandt. With Durandt's raw shot-making abilities, Albrikes has chosen to play steadier while still opting to become aggressive at times.

Albrikes used to be more of an offensive player until he teamed up with Durandt. With Durandt's raw shot-making abilities, Albrikes has chosen to play steadier while still opting to become aggressive at times."I've never seen anybody more focused or more driven on a platform tennis court," Coster said of Albrikes. "He's incredibly intense on the court. But the nice thing about Jerry is that there are people in sports so intense that they turn into jerks on the court; Jerry couldn't be a politer person."

"I've never seen anybody more focused or more driven on a platform tennis court," Coster said of Albrikes. "He's incredibly intense on the court. But the nice thing about Jerry is that there are people in sports so intense that they turn into jerks on the court; Jerry couldn't be a politer person."Invented by minister

Invented by ministerIndeed, players say platform tennis is a polite game - much less cut-throat and more social than tennis. It's also a sport with much less participation than tennis - in the tens of thousands, compared with millions of tennis players worldwide.

Indeed, players say platform tennis is a polite game - much less cut-throat and more social than tennis. It's also a sport with much less participation than tennis - in the tens of thousands, compared with millions of tennis players worldwide.Platform tennis, invented in the 1890s by a New York City minister and intended originally to give inner-city children a chance to exercise, has been taken up in recent years mostly by wealthy, middle-aged suburbanites.

Platform tennis, invented in the 1890s by a New York City minister and intended originally to give inner-city children a chance to exercise, has been taken up in recent years mostly by wealthy, middle-aged suburbanites.Around this area, Essex Platform Tennis Club, with three courts, is the main place to play, but other courts can be found tucked away at private homes such as in Niantic's Old Black Point area, as well as at private facilities: Old Lyme Country Club, Shelter Harbor Inn in Westerly, Stonington Country Club and Point Judith Country Club in Narragansett, R.I.

Around this area, Essex Platform Tennis Club, with three courts, is the main place to play, but other courts can be found tucked away at private homes such as in Niantic's Old Black Point area, as well as at private facilities: Old Lyme Country Club, Shelter Harbor Inn in Westerly, Stonington Country Club and Point Judith Country Club in Narragansett, R.I.The club in Essex has begun to attract a good group of top local tennis players, including Joe Trausch, Mike Fried and Adam Sadowski.

The club in Essex has begun to attract a good group of top local tennis players, including Joe Trausch, Mike Fried and Adam Sadowski. Racket skills translate easily to platform tennis, players say, though the game takes much more patience than tennis and matches tend to be more competitive because it is harder to put a ball away. Hard shots can rebound off the back screen, giving players easier put-aways than soft shots, so many players just resort to retrieving balls, extending rallies for 40 or 50 hits.

Racket skills translate easily to platform tennis, players say, though the game takes much more patience than tennis and matches tend to be more competitive because it is harder to put a ball away. Hard shots can rebound off the back screen, giving players easier put-aways than soft shots, so many players just resort to retrieving balls, extending rallies for 40 or 50 hits."It's a tough game physically, more so than tennis," Coster said.

"It's a tough game physically, more so than tennis," Coster said.Albrikes can attest to this. He tweaked his hamstring during a quarter-final contest last weekend during his third match of the day and saw a massage therapist before his semi-final last Sunday.

Albrikes can attest to this. He tweaked his hamstring during a quarter-final contest last weekend during his third match of the day and saw a massage therapist before his semi-final last Sunday.In the semis, Albrikes and Durandt played a team that had knocked off the No. 1 seed, but managed an easy 6-0, 6-2 victory in what a platform tennis Web site called a "fast paced slug-fest." Then it was on to the finals, where no one had them pegged to beat the defending national champions.

In the semis, Albrikes and Durandt played a team that had knocked off the No. 1 seed, but managed an easy 6-0, 6-2 victory in what a platform tennis Web site called a "fast paced slug-fest." Then it was on to the finals, where no one had them pegged to beat the defending national champions."They thought the other semi-final was really the final," Albrikes recalled.

"They thought the other semi-final was really the final," Albrikes recalled. New England teams had rarely emerged as a threat on the national stage, with the hotbeds of platform tennis focused in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and New Jersey. But, after a shaky start, Albrikes and Durandt started to turn the tide.

New England teams had rarely emerged as a threat on the national stage, with the hotbeds of platform tennis focused in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and New Jersey. But, after a shaky start, Albrikes and Durandt started to turn the tide."It was kind of like we hit the zone," Albrikes recalled.

"It was kind of like we hit the zone," Albrikes recalled.As for a second national championship together, the chances are slim. Durandt already has found another partner for next year after Albrikes announced that he was planning to move to South Carolina in May to take the top tennis-teaching job at a 16-court club near Charleston.

As for a second national championship together, the chances are slim. Durandt already has found another partner for next year after Albrikes announced that he was planning to move to South Carolina in May to take the top tennis-teaching job at a 16-court club near Charleston.After nearly a decade in Mystic, Albrikes said it was time to move on. And he's already talking about installing a platform-tennis facility at the club in South Carolina - a state that hasn't yet been introduced to the sport.

After nearly a decade in Mystic, Albrikes said it was time to move on. And he's already talking about installing a platform-tennis facility at the club in South Carolina - a state that hasn't yet been introduced to the sport.But for now, he's squarely focused on basking in the glow of his national championship.

But for now, he's squarely focused on basking in the glow of his national championship."It still hasn't hit me," he said. "I've never felt anything like it. ... In paddle, I'm the best in the world right now."

"It still hasn't hit me," he said. "I've never felt anything like it. ... In paddle, I'm the best in the world right now."l.howard@theday.com

l.howard@theday.com