The 40 Hard Courts began November 27th in La Jolla and the main draw concludes tomorrow, December 2nd. The singles was the toughest of the year for the 40 women. Gretchen Magers, the 2 time defending champion has eased her way to the final, beating Mariana Hollman 61 63 in the semis. Rhona Kaczmarczyk, the #2 seed and this year’s Indoor champion, from Colorado, ran into Ellie Compton Hammargren in the quarters. Ellie has been playing better each year here and used her all court game to upset Rhona 63 64. Tracy Houk, who tuned up for this event by playing several open tournaments in NorCal was steady and passed well, foiling Hammargren’s plan for a second straight upset. Tracy won 75 62. The final is tomorrow.
The doubles was more true to form, with Magers/Kathy May Fritz reaching the final with a straight set win over Hollman/Houk and Betty Ann Grout/Terry Holladay beating Kathy Vick/AnnMarie Brigandi in straight sets in the other semi. The match of the tournament to date though was between Hollman/Houk and Cherise Meioli/Jill Prolman, winners here in 2002. The match went deep into the 3rd, with lots of long baseline rallies between Meioli and Houk before Houk/Hollman won 75 in the third.