Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Semis and finals  of the National 60/70/80 clay were held today in various divisions.

In the 60s, the singles semis and doubles final & 3/4 playoffs were held. I played my doubles partner Susan Wright and edged her in a two hour battle 64 63. I definitely got lucky with hitting some lines on big points today. Diane Barker beat Pat Purcell in their first ever meeting 62 62. Susan and I took the court to play Pat and her doubles partner Bunnie Allare. The match was going to be a battle. We were down 2/1 when Pat made a move which further aggravated a knee that was tweaked in her earlier singles match. When we were 3/2 up she had to retire, which was sad for all of us. This quick match was a marked contrast to the 3/4 playoff between Janet Mosely/Sally Smith and Vicky Nagy/Mary Jackson. They played for about two hours (maybe more) and just as they split sets, the rain that had been circling around the Bocage Racquet Club decided to make an appearance, wiping out play for the day. They will finish at 8am tomorrow. Wright won the bronze over Purcell by default (knee).

In the 70s, both singles semis were lopsided. Leslie Pixley, who upset Betty Wachob yesterday, allowed Judy Louie only a game and Brenda Carter dropped three games to Carol Clay in her win. However, the doubles final was another matter. Carte/ Wachob raced to a 5/0 lead over Clay/Ellen Goodman whereupon Clay/Goodman rallied to 3/5 before the top seeds, Carter/Wachob, closed out the set 63. In the second set, Carter/Wachob were on the brink of victory at 5/1 and had match points at 5/2, only to watch their lead evaporate to the extent that they had to rally from 5/6 down to force a tiebreak. Carter/Wachob finally won the tiebreak and the match 75. There were so many hugs after that match between the participants that even Carter didn’t need any more!

Roz King took home two gold balls in the 80s, the singles (where she upset top seed Dori DeVries 64 76 (4) and the doubles, with Burnett Herrick, over Inge Weber/Kathy Langer 75 63. King, who has legs most 40 year olds would envy, put them to good use against DeVries, running down drop shots and opening up the court for her many angles. King acknowledged though that she needed more wins against Dori to even their head to head. The 3/4 playoff was a long battle between DeVries/Carol Wood and Sheila Palmer/Mary John Lynch, finally won by the top seeds, DeVries/Wood in three sets. Weber won the singles bronze by default over Carol Wood (glute injury).

   <p>Draws: <a title="http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=187853#&amp;&amp;s=8Results0" href="http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=187853#&amp;&amp;s=8Results0">http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=187853#&amp;&amp;s=8Results0</a></p> <p>Photos: <a title="https://goo.gl/photos/qLNMdEqrZjAZCnX79" href="https://goo.gl/photos/qLNMdEqrZjAZCnX79">https://goo.gl/photos/qLNMdEqrZjAZCnX79</a>