Several Americans took home individual medals from the World Individual Championships in Antalya, Turkey on November 5th. It was a rain and storm plagued championships, but despite the really terrible weather, all the matches were completed.
Charleen Hillebrand had a perfect 2 weeks in Turkey. Playing in her first year in the 65s, she and her teammates took the team title in the Kitty Godfree Cup. She was the captain of that team. She then combined with Suella Steel to win the doubles title and edged Steel in 3 sets to take the singles title. Hillebrand/Steel also completed a "golden" slam, winning the women’s 65 hard, clay indoor and grass doubles titles in the USA. Her only losses at the national level came early in the year to Steel, whose only losses as well were to Hillebrand.
Tony Franco fared nearly as well as Hillebrand in the men’s 80 division. He was part of the Gardnar Mulloy Cup team which finished 2nd. He then won the 80 singles title the following week, playing 3 singles matches in 2 days to take the title. He combined with last year’s champion, Graydon Nichols, to repeat as doubles champions over a tough Australian team. Franco/Nichols were down a set and 51 and match point before rallying to take the next 6 games and force a third set. However, due to all the rain, the third set was but a 10 point tiebreaker which the Americans won 10 points to 4.
Hugh Thompson won the men’s 60 title to go with the Von Cramm Cup title he and his teammates won the previous week. He edged Michael Beautyman, his teammate, in the final, scoring his first win of the year over the consistent Beautyman.
Bob Duesler/Jim Nelson won two deciding doubles matches in helping their Crawford Cup team to victory in the team event. They also won a "golden" slam in the men’s 70 doubles division this year. They continued their fine play in the team event, beating their teammates, Gordon Davis and Herm Ahlers, in the final. Ahlers reached the singles quarters, and Davis reached the singles semis, both falling to the eventual champion in close matches.
Chuck DeVoe had a successful world championships as well, reaching the semis of the singles and narrowly losing to Lorne Main and the final of the doubles, with Joe Russell, again falling to Main and Ken Sinclair of Canada.
Other players taking home medals were: Jane Lutz/Louise Russ, women’s 75 doubles (semis); Russ and Suzanne Ryerson, women’s 75 singles (semis); Dori deVries, women’s 70 singles (semis); Hugh Thompson, men’s 60 doubles, (semis).