Writing from California, USA

The USA won five of the 10 divisions last week in Umag Croatia (Women’s 65,70, 85 & Men’s 75 & 85) and finished second (Women’s 75, 80) and third (Men’s 65, 70, 80) in the other five divisions.

This week some American team players stayed on to contest the individual world championships while others flew in for this event and others live in Europe.

In the women’s 65, Tina Karwasky, having led the USA to victory in the 65s for the third straight year, is having a great second week, reaching the final of the singles and doubles (with Jan Kirkland Cochran, USA). She will face her Kitty Godfree Cup teammate Wendy McColskey in the final. McColskey will be contesting her first world singles final, with her previous best being a semifinal in singles. It is also Kirkland Cochran’s first world doubles final.

In women’s 70, Liane Bryson (playing with Heidi Eisterlehner of Germany) is in the doubles final. She won this event last year with Petro Kruger of So Africa. Bryson reached the mixed semis too but lost today.

In women’s 75, Cathie Anderson/Carolann Castell lost a close match in the semis but NSWTA & USTA member Heide Orth is in the singles and doubles finals (with Kruger). Suella Steel/Dean Corley, USA fell in the semis of the mixed.

In women’s 80s, the doubles final will be an all-American affair, between Carol Wood/Sheila Palmer and Burnett Herrick/Dorothy Wasser. Palmer/Wilbur Jones are in the mixed final. In singles, Inge Weber, CAN, also a USTA member and Nanda Fischer, GER, who plays some USTA events will face off in the final.

In women’s 85, France, which did not send a team, had six entrants in singles! And NZL, who also didn’t send a team had two entrants (to be fair, the ITF requires three players to field a team).

In the 65s, Danny Shaw, USA (lives in Europe), playing with Austrian Hilldegarde Bruggraber upset the top seeds today (Bruno Renault/Caroline Glazmann), former champions to reach the final.

In the 70s, defending champion Bruce Barrett USA and Chris Ornstein GBR are in the doubles final again. Barrett also reached the mixed semis.

In the 75s, Jimmy Parker reached the semis of singles but lost to Peter Adrigan in the semis. Adrigan is returning after a two year golf sabbatical, which doesn’t seem to have hurt his game any. Parker/Donald Long USA will face Corley/Michael Stewart, USA in the doubles final. Steel/Corley fell in the mixed semis.

Wilbur Jones is in two finals in the 80s, the doubles, with Herm Ahlers, USA and mixed (with Sheila Palmer, USA).

King Van Nostrand, USA will go for gold in men’s 85 singles against Frenchman Henri Cruchet and doubles, with John Powless, in another all American doubles final. They face Joe Russell/George McCabe.

Results are here.