A Senior Tennis (USA and International) & Travel website by Carolyn Nichols
June 30, 2020
The USTA has announced the teams it has selected to represent the USTA in the ITF Super Senior World Team Championships in October. (Fingers crossed that this event happens as scheduled, October 11-16 in Mallorca, Spain with individuals to follow October 17-24).
The players selected are listed below; players whose names are in bold font are the playing captains. The players are listed alphabetically by first name.
23 April 2020
ITF Statement regarding ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ITF has suspended all Tours, including the ITF Seniors Tour until 13 July 2020, aligning with the ATP and WTA Tours respectively. This includes the postponement of the ITF Seniors (50-55-60 years) World Team & Individual Championships which had been scheduled to take place In Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens, USA from 26 April to 9 May 2020.
The ITF has been working with the host organiser, venues, event partners and independent travel advisors in recent weeks to identify a safe and viable date to reschedule the event in 2020. Protecting the health and well-being of players, officials, guests, club members and local communities has remained the priority.
Due to the ongoing global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not been possible to achieve the criteria set for the event to be rescheduled in 2020, and as such the ITF Seniors (50-55-60 years) World Team & Individual Championships will not be held in 2020.
The 2021 ITF Seniors (50-55-60 years) World Team & Individual Championships will therefore take place in Boca Raton & Palm Beach Gardens, with the precise dates to be announced in due course.
The ITF will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation alongside tournament hosts and partners, with the aim of resuming ITF tournaments as soon as it is safe to do so.
The ITF Young Seniors (35-40-45 years) World Championships scheduled for 13-26 September 2020 in Umag, Croatia and the ITF Super-Seniors (65-70-75-80-85 years) World Championships scheduled for 11- 24 October 2020 in Mallorca, Spain both remain on the 2020 calendar.
If you have any queries, please contact the ITF Seniors Department by email – seniors@itftennis.com
The USTA has posted a link here regarding the postponement to 2021.
From the ITF website: https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/2020-itf-seniors-world-championships-dates-locations-information/
2020 ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships
*POSTPONED*
Updated April 23, 2020: Postponed till 2021, dates TBA
Location
Team Championships: Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Individual Championships: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Dates
As of 17 March 2020, the ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships is postponed as a precautionary measure linked to the potential impact of the COVID-19 virus on the event.
Every effort will be made by the host organisers, USTA and ITF to reschedule the event for a later date in 2020 provided a safe, viable date can be identified. Further updates relating to this will follow in due course.
Venues
Team Championships: Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Individual Championships: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Fact Sheet
The fact sheet for both the Team & Individual Championships are available below should they be helpful to you in contacting hotels in the City. They will remain until the end of March for this purpose.
The application for the Men’s and Women’s 35/40/45 (Italia, Trabert, Dubler, Lenglen, Young & Court) Cups is now open. The deadline to apply is April 11th. UPDATED: MAY 11, 2020
Click here to apply: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ITFYoungSeniors
The Young Seniors Team Competition will be held in Umag, Croatia September 13-19. (The individual competition, open to all players meeting the minimum age requirement and possessing an IPIN will be held September 20-27 in Umag).
The teams will be announced May 11th, 2020.
If you have any questions about the application, please feel free to contact Rob Gorden at robert.gorden@usta.com.
| Maria Esther Bueno Cup Women's 50 | Fred Perry Cup Men's 50 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea Rice | Bethesda | MD | Art Hernandez | Huntington Beach | CA |
| Jenny Klitch | Palm Beach Gardens (captain) | FL | Dana Gill | San Jose | CA |
| Julie Cass | Austin | TX | Eoin Collins | Houston | TX |
| Vesna McKenna | Hollywood | FL | Oren Motevassel (Captain) | Boynton Beach | FL |
| Maureen Connolly Cup Women's 55 | Austria Cup Men's 55 | ||||
| Fran Chandler | Jackson | TN | Bill Moss (captain) | Malibu | CA |
| Mary Dailey | Delray Beach | FL | Eric Luxembourg | Sarasota | FL |
| Shelly Works (captain) | San Antonio | TX | Leo Young | Eagle | ID |
| Vicki Buholz | Dallas | TX | Wilie Alumbaugh | Leawood | KS |
| Alice Marble Cup Women's 60 | Von Cramm Cup Men's 60 | ||||
| Robin Harris | San Diego | CA | Daniel Waldman | Washington | DC |
| Pat Purcell | St. Louis | MO | Mark Vines | Naples | FL |
| Shannon Gordon-Carney | St. Louis | Mo | Mike Fedderly | Palm Desert | CA |
| Susan Wright | Orlando | FL | Mike Tammen (captain) | Portland | OR |
From USTA.com: (note that Robin Harris has replaced Diane Barker on the Women’s 60s team; Barker is injured.)
From itftennis.com:
2020 ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships
Location
Team Championships: Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Individual Championships: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Dates
Team Championships: Sunday 26 April to Friday 1 May 2020. If there is inclement weather, matches may be played on Saturday 2 May
Individual Championships – Saturday 2 May to Saturday 9 May
Venues
Team Championships: Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Individual Championships: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Fact Sheet
The fact sheet for both the Team & Individual Championships are now available. Please note that the listed venues for the individual world championships may change.
Young Seniors Individual Round Up: Marvin Colley & Anda Perianu Reach Singles Finals
Writing from California, USA
The Young Seniors Individual World Championships finished November 2nd in Miami Beach, Florida.
Photos below courtesy of cameraworksusa (Susan and Fred Mullane).
Anda Perianu, silver and Kaysie Smashey, bronze were on the medals podium for the USA in women’s 35 singles. They teamed together in 35 doubles to reach the semis and earn bronze medals. Perianu was seeded 4th.
Marvin Colley, unseeded, reached the men’s 40 singles final. He also teamed with Brandon Blankenbaker to reach the 35 doubles final. Marvin and Brandon took out the 2nd and 4th seeds along the way.
Neither Perianu nor Colley were members of a USTA national team this year. Perianu was a member of the Suzanne Lenglen Cup team in 2018 which finished second. Smashey and Blankenbaker were members of the W35 and M35 USA teams respectively in 2019.
Jenny Klitch and Andrea Rice, both of whom are in the 50s, reached the 45 doubles final. They won the 50 clay courts in 2019. Klitch was a member of the W45 team which won bronze in Miami Beach while Rice was a member of the gold medal winning W50 team this year in Lisbon, Portugal.
Individual Draws Now Posted for ITF Young Seniors World Championships
Final results:
The Individual World Championships are open to any player who has an IPIN and is of the correct age (35+, 40+ or 45+). Singles, doubles and mixed are available for one entry fee. However, there are a disappointingly small number of American entrants in this event. The USTA does award USTA ranking points (normally the same points as for a Category I National, though I don’t know how many are being awarded this year).
The draws can be found here. Doubles draws aren’t yet posted but singles draws are posted now.
Draws:ITF Young Seniors, Miami
Writing from California, USA
The ITF Individual World Championships concluded yesterday in Umag, Croatia. Though there weren’t many Americans in the draws, those that were there came home with many gold, silver and bronze medals.
Wendy McColskey won her first every world championship, the 65 singles, the hard way, beating her Kitty Godfree Cup teammate Tina Karwasky (holder of two consecutive 65 Gold Slams in singles and winner 11 straight 65 national singles championships) in three sets. Earlier in the year Karwasky beat McColskey in the final of the 65 Clay. Karwasky was a doubles finalist too, with Jan Kirkland-Cochran, losing to Aussies Helen Worland and Adrienne Avis. Avis won the mixed too, with Marc Renault, FRA over American Danny Shaw and Hildegard Bruggraber, AUT.
In women’s 70 doubles, Liane Bryson, playing with Germany’s Heidi Eisterlehner were silver medalists, also losing to and Aussie, Kerry Ballard (who won the singles) and Shirley Fox (GBR). Bruce Barrett, USA and Chris Ornstein, GBR, the defending men’s 70 doubles champions reached the final but fell to Petr Kolacek, SUIand Jairo Velasco Ramirez, ESP in the final.
In the 75s, Dean Corley/Michael Stewart won the doubles in an all-American final over Jimmy Parker/Don Long. Heide Orth, GER won the 75 singles and doubles (with Petro Kruger, RSA); Kruger won the mixed with Peter Pokorny, AUT (who won the singles).
In the 80s, Herm Ahlers/Wilbur Jones fell in the final to the Aussie duo of Bruce Rehn/Bob Howes. Inge Weber, CAN won the women’s singles. In another all American doubles final, Dorothy Wasser/Burnett Herrick beat their Doris Hart Cup teammates Sheila Palmer/Carol Wood. Palmer/Jones were 80 mixed finalists, falling to Aussies June Simpson/Don Biddle in the final round.
King Van Nostrand continued his dominance of the men’s 85 division, winning the singles and doubles, with John Powless of the USA. They beat their Gardnar Mulloy Cup teammates, George McCabe/Joe Russell in the final.
Bronze medals went to: Dorothy Wasser, W80 singles, Bruce Barrett, 70 Mixed, Suella Steel, Corley, 75 mixed, Bryson, 70 mixed, Cathie Anderson/Carolann Castell, W75 doubles, Jimmy Parker, M75 singles. Hopefully I didn’t miss anyone!
American Super Seniors Find Success on Red Clay in Croatia
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.
Draws for 2019 Super Senior Cups in Umag Now Posted
Please click on the following links below to view the final draws for the 2019 ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships.
Kitty Godfree Cup, W 65 (USA is in Group A); USA is in the 1-4 playoff
Althea Gibson Cup, W70 (USA is in Group B); USA in the 1-4 playoff
Queens’ Cup, W75 (USA is in Group B); USA in the 1-3 playoff
Doris Hart Cup, W80 (USA is in Group B); USA in the 1-3 playoff
Britannia Cup, M65 (USA is in Group C); USA in the playoff or 1st
Jack Crawford Cup, M70 (USA is in Group F); USA in the 1-6 playoff
Bitsy Grant Cup, M75 (USA is in Group B); USA in the play off for 1st
Gardnar Mulloy Cup, M80 (USA is in Group B) USA in the playoff for 1st
Men’s 85 Cup. (5 team round robin)
More information here including links to blog articles and players.
Somewhere between Lisbon & Barcelona
Saturday August 17, 2019
The World Championships ended in Portugal today. They were a great success. This is a partial overview of the final day; I’m on an airplane en route to Barcelona…no internet. All matches described were finals.
60s:
Diane Barker played a near perfect match to beat Susan Wright 62 63 and win the 60 singles.
Robin Harris and Ross Persons lost to Ros Balodis/Peter Hampton in 60 mixed. Ros and Peter played an excellent match.
Mark Vines and Glenn Busby fell in the doubles final in a match tiebreak 10-8 to Aussies Peter Hampton & Michael Ford, and Glenn won the singles in men’s 60s.
Wright/Pat Medrado beat us in the women’s doubles final 63 75; we nearly mounted a successful comeback in the second set because we were down 40 and just trying to get a game…we got more aggressive, I served and volleyed and came into net all the time (Robin already does that) and it changed things. Susan was a rock, didn’t really miss a ball all day and Medrado was also solid and mixed things up. It was again extremely windy…we were both covered in red dirt by the end of the two hour match.
55s:
Klartje Van Baarle won the 55 singles, dismantling yet another opponent with the loss of only four games (Marie from France). She added the 55 doubles with Mary Dailey,
USA, 63 76 over Fran Chandler/Shelly Works.
Brenda Foster and Berend Betz won the 55 mixed. I don’t know who won the men’s singles but I believe he was from Germany. The 55 men’s doubles was ongoing when we left, with Polo Cowan/Dan Grossman (USA) winning the first set 76. UPDATE: They won 76 75, so Grossman has a 55 doubles world title to add to the 65s world title he won two years ago in Orlando.
50s: Taras Beyko won the 50 singles, his second world title. He’s a Canadian. Theresa Catlin from GBR won her first singles world championship. Later in the day she won the doubles too with Siobhan Nicholson over former world champions Lesley O’Halloran/Olga Shaposhnikova.
The day was hectic; it started with getting all of our luggage out of the apartment and to the club via Uber. We had a super nice Uber driver who went out of his way to get our stuff close to the office where we stored our luggage for the day. Jenny Cerff and Susan Wright went earlier because Susan had to play her singles. Then Susan played singles, Robin played mixed and Susan and Pat played Robin and me. As soon as we finished, realizing it was 5pm, we showered and then had photos taken and booked out of there via Uber.
Jenny’s Phone Update: Jenny got the Portuguese tennis federation and Uber involved in retrieving her phone from Gabriela, the Uber driver who had it. She was to return it to the tennis club but in the end Jenny’s friend from So Africa who lives in Portugal had to go to her apartment and retrieve it. Jenny does now have her phone and is not letting go! She was politely persistent and it paid off.
We arrive in Barcelona sometime around midnight (plane delay currently).
And that’s a wrap on the 2019 ITF Seniors World Championships. I’ll update this with final results soon.
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
Friday Night Aug. 16
Lisbon, Portugal
Writing about losses is not particularly fun. But I can do it as long after my match as I wish (or not at all), which is not the case on the pro tour, where they have to explain losses (and wins) only moments after they occur. Anyway, Susan Wright ended my singles tournament with a solid performance. I warmed up again with Jenny Klitch, which apparently worked well for me since I had many chances in the first set. I even led 65, but Susan hit one of her patented backhands an inch from the line (along with a couple others at deuce that were brave and accurate) and played better the whole match. It’s hard to believe she once had a 2-handed backhand that she was reluctant to abandon since her one handed shot is great. Tomorrow morning she plays Diane Barker in the final. Barker took out France’s Betty Michel 63 63.
In 60 doubles, Susan and Pat Medrado played Tracey Thompson/Jenny Cerff which was won 64 63 by the defending champions (Susan/Pat). By all accounts it was a great match, lots of great volleys, overheads and lobs. Robin and I beat an Aussie pair, Fiona Walker/Rosemary Everett 60 63. Robin played fantastic and we won 60 63. It was somewhat windy but nothing compared to yesterday. We play Pat and Susan tomorrow afternoon.
Walker, Everett, Harris, Nichols
Robin is into the 60 mixed final with Ross Persons against Ros Balodis and her partner. They received a default in the semis from players who didn’t anticipate doing so well in the tournament and had booked flights for today. Ross fell in men’s doubles in the semis. He said it was a really fun, good match and he played well.
Mark Vines and Glenn Busby are into the doubles final, but Busby crushed Mark in singles earlier in the day (then they crushed their British doubles opponents).
In the 55s, Fran Chandler/Shelly Works are into the final. They played Brenda Foster and her partner and were down 84 in the match tiebreak and came back to win it! They face Mary Dailey/Klartje Van Baarle in the final, who were lucky to be there…Van Baarle was over an hour late for the match but Vicki Buholz/Gayle Prejean agreed to play them anyway, which was quite sporting of them.
Vicki and Jerome Vanier lost a tight semi to Brenda Foster/Berend Betz, in the match tiebreak in 55 mixed. NorCal players Polo Cowan/Dan Grossman are in the 55 doubles final. Grossman has a 65 world title to his name, so it’s impressive that he can give up 10 years and still reach the final of the worlds in doubles. They beat Betz/Frans Grimbergen of the Netherlands.
Jenny Klitch fell in 50 singles to a French player…she too had a set point in the second set but fell just a point short of forcing a third. Canada’s Taras Beyko is into the men’s 50 singles final.
Finals tomorrow then off to Spain.
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
Thursday August 15, 2019
Lisbon, Portugal
Today I played two matches in one day, doubling the amount of matches I’ve played in the tournament to date. I warmed up again with Jenny Klitch (who had the day off) and then played Leanne Scott of Australia. It was very windy at 9am and we were on a shady court but after a slow start I adjusted to the wind and shade and won 62 60. Susan Wright beat Elena Polyakova of Russia 63 61 a tough little player. Diane Barker beat Fiona Walker of Australia 61 63. The fourth semifinal was between #4 seeded Betty Michel of France and Carmen Lang Verdugo of Spain and was very competitive. Michel started slowly (or Lang started quickly), dropping the first set 60, but rebounded to win the final sets 64 61. Diane plays Betty and I play Susan tomorrow.
In doubles, Susan and Pat Medrado played a pair of Aussies, Wendy Harrison and Scott; unfortunately, Scott hurt her knee at 05 down and had to retire. Robin and I beat Annelies Simons, Netherlands and Penny Smith, NZL, and won 62 61. It was super windy though, and dusty. I was covered in clay by the end of the match, because of the swirling dust that enveloped the court. The groundskeepers couldn’t keep the clay wet enough, and there were dust clouds over the courts in the afternoon. Robin played great (to no one’s surprise) and it was a good match. We play the #3 seeds, Walker/Rosemary Everett tomorrow after they beat a pair of South African players in a match tiebreak. Tracey Thompson/Jenny Cerff beat Hazel Lindfield (GBR) and Christiane Deryckere (BEL). 76 62. They take on Susan/Pat tomorrow.
After the doubles Susan was snacking on her lunch and a bee flew into her mouth and bit her on her tongue! Fortunately, she’s not allergic to bees and it only stung a bit (pun intended). A couple of Advil in the afternoon and she was almost as good as new.
Robin and Ross Persons, USA won their 60 mixed today over Stephen Dance/Walker of Australia 62 76. Ross is also into the men’s doubles semis along with American Mark Vines (playing with Glenn Busby, AUS). Vines is into the semis, getting a retirement win (pulled muscle) from his opponent and plays Busby tomorrow. Diane and Jack Baker lost in the quarters of the mixed.
Five USA women are in the 55 doubles semis, but only one was expected to be there. Fran Chandler gained a measure of revenge against Helga Nauck (who beat her in singles) and, along with Shelly Works beat Nauck/Katie Boeroecz of Germany, the top seeds 60 63. Vicki Buholz/Gayle Prejean upset the #3 seeds, and multiple world champions Ros Balodis/Leanne Swaysland in an exciting match 64 16 1/0(8), winning the match tiebreak on their third match point. They take on Mary Dailey (USA) and Klartje Van Baarle of Belgium in the semis, the 2nd seeds.
In men’s 55 doubles Dan Grossman/Polo Cowan are into the semis. Willie Alumbaugh/Scott Works fell 12-10 in a match tiebreak though in the quarters. Collin Smith (USA)/David Smith (RSA) are into the 55 doubles semis. Bill Moss lost to Franck Hervy of France in three sets in the quarters of the 55 singles.
To summarize: W60s: 3 singles semi finalists; 4 doubles semi finalists; MXD 60: 2 semifinalists; M60s: 1 singles semi finalist & 2 doubles semifinalists
55s: WD: 5 semifinalists; MD: 3 semifinalists
50s: WS: 1 semifinalist
Draws Now Available for ITF Seniors Individual World Championships
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
World Championships Day 5: I Played (and Won) a Singles Match
Wednesday August 14
Lisbon, Portugal
9pm update: Diane/Jack Barker upset the top seeds, Mark Pepin/Julie Fiedler in straight sets to advance to the quarters; Vicki Buholz won her mixed; Danny Waldman/Norbert Henn lost in doubles. (Danny played 12 sets in the last two days of the team competition!). Ross Persons won his doubles; Polo Cowan/Dan Grossman won their 55 doubles match. Alumbaugh/Scott Works advanced in 55 doubles as well.
It was a warm, sunny, breezy day in Lisbon. I got to the courts early to warm up with Jenny Klitch and Tracey Thompson joined us too. It was a great warm up. I was scheduled for not before noon on Center Court. The first match of the day took nearly three hours though, but Mark Vines of the USA played the second match and won in about an hour. We got on court around 1:45 or so. The court played well, though they wind swirled a bit and the sun on one end was pretty brutal for serving. I played Great Britain’s Hazel Lindfield, a nice player with an all court game and excellent, consistent first and second serve. I won 60 62 but the second set was closer than the score would indicate. I’m in the quarterfinals and play Leanne Scott from Australia.
Carolyn & Hazel
Susan Wright beat another Australian, Rosemary Everett handily. Then she went to scout her next opponent…the only problem being that her next opponent had played at 9am and finished before Susan began her match. She inadvertently scouted my next opponent and Diane Barker’s though. Diane played at 9am and was done before 10, beating Jenny Chin from Gr. Britain. Diane plays Fiona Walker from Australia and Susan play Poliakova from Russia. The top three seeds are Diane, Susan and me; Betty Michel of France is the 4th seed and played the other American in the draw, #12 seeded Tracey Thompson. Thompson, who has played sparingly the last two years (but watch out, she’s retired now and ready to compete more), got out of the gates quickly (maybe it was the good warm up?), surprising Michel with her power and won it 64. Michel though fought back and won the last two sets 62 61 to reach the quarters.
Mark Vines, M60 is into the quarters. Danny Waldman though fell to Glenn Busby. The first set took nearly two hours and featured momentum shifts galore. Danny was down 3/0; leveled and eventually served for the set at 65 and was broken; Glenn led 63 in the breaker only to have Danny level and get a set point of his own before Glenn prevailed 76 and then won the second set 61. It was a high quality match for much of it, those guys really smack the ball. Mark Vines also advanced to the doubles quarters with Busby.
Jenny Klitch, W50, is into the semis beating Spaniard Leticia Almirall in straight sets.
Vicki Buholz, W55, lost to top seeded Van Baarle 60 62. It’s no mean feat getting two games off of Van Baarle on clay!
A day after Willie Alumbaugh upset the #2 seed, he fell to Italian Raffaello Putti 63 63. It’s never good to play a Rafa on clay.
Robin Harris and Ross Persons won their mixed match by default. We were sorry for the injury one of their opponents had but happy that we didn’t have to stay for Robin’s 7pm mixed match!
Jenny Cerff left her cell phone in an Uber and we have not yet retrieved it. The driver’s name was Gabriella and she answered the first time we called and said she found it…but has ghosted us ever since. Uber, find our phone! We’ve messaged you many times but so far no traction on that. We now take a screen shot of the license plates of all Ubers which pick us up. I lost my metal water bottle in one, but that’s nothing compared to a cell phone.
Jenny Cerff, Carolyn
Draws Now Available for ITF Seniors Individual World Championships
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
World Championships Day 4: Played a Match!
Lisbon, Portugal
It’s Tuesday in Lisbon; the Individual World Championships began Saturday and due to byes and a default today was the first day I played a match of any kind. Robin and I played at the Club Internacional de Foot-Ball, and won 61 60 against two nice women, Salete Nery from Brazil and Elize Preuyt from So Africa. Nery has only been playing eight years and Elize works full time as a teacher, but both love the game and are enjoying the world championships. We are now into the quarters.
Susan Wright and Pat Medrado won their first round by the same score. Jenny Cerff and Tracey Thompson dropped the first three games of their match today and then won the next 8, winning 63 62. Both teams are in the quarters and on a semifinal collision course. Tracey won her second round singles match and Diane Barker won her first, both are into the round of 16 now, with Susan Wright and myself.
Other American results:
Women: Jenny Klitch in women’s 50s is into the quarters. Fran Chandler fell in a very well played match to Helga Nauck from Germany, the 3rd seed 64 75. Shelly Works lost to Mariana Metola of Argentina in the round of 32. Vicki Buholz won a contentious match with Marina Korepanova of Russia 64 in the third..her reward, a meeting with top-seeded Klartje Van Baarle of Belgium, new to the age division. In doubles, Fran Chandler/Shelly Works advanced; Buholz/Gayle Prejean won and Mary Dailey was playing with Van Baarle.
Men: In the 50s, Dana Gill fell to #7 seed Fernando Granero of Spain 62 76; in the 55s, Willie Alumbaugh upset #2 seeded Simon Arms of Australia in three sets to reach the round of 16; Scott Works fell to Michael Kudinoff of Sweden 76 62, but had beaten the #16 seed a day earlier; in the 60s, defending champion and top seed Mark Vines is into the round of 16 as is Danny Waldman; Waldman faces Glenn Busby of Australia there. In doubles Waldman/Norbert Henn, Busby/Vines and Ross Persons/Joakim Berner are still going.
In mixed, Vicki Buholz/Jerome Vanier (France) are in the round of 16 in the 55s; in the 60s, Jack and Diane Barker take on the first seeds in the round of 16 and #2 seeded Ross Persons/Robin Harris are also in the round of 16.
The order of play isn’t out yet, but given that it’s Wednesday tomorrow and we are in the round of 16, I assume we have the singles round of 16 tomorrow.
Draws Now Available for ITF Seniors Individual World Championships
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
Individual World Championships Lisbon, Day 3: Waiting to Play
Lisbon, Portugal
Today I was scheduled to play at the Club Internacional de Foot-Ball not before 4pm. Susan was scheduled there not before noon while Jenny Cerff had a 10:30 match at Estadio Nacional Jamor and Robin and Jenny were to play mixed with their respective partners there not before 5:30 pm.
Tracey, not wanting to miss any adventure, and Robin went to Sintra, a world heritage site near Lisbon. They did get to one of the castles, but due to traffic, lines to enter and the fact that Robin had to play in the evening they didn’t get into the castle. However, they really enjoyed the ride and saw some new countryside.
Since I didn’t play till late it was my job to do the grocery shopping in the morning. We have it down now…the mini market for freshly baked chicken, apples and sweet potatoes, and the supermarket for other supplies.
Robin won her mixed match with Ross Persons; Susan won her singles match; Jenny lost a tough one in singles 75 in singles and had to play Ros Balodis in mixed so they lost. I ubered over to the Foot-Ball club and saw the open court 2, which was the one I was assigned. But my opponent, who won a first round match, never showed up to play. Fortunately, Susan was nice enough to practice with me. The courts were really dry and slippery by the time we hit…not much clay on them (plus it was quite windy, which is normal for Lisbon according to locals).
Tomorrow Robin and I play doubles at noon; Tracey plays singles at 10:30 and doubles at 4 with Jenny and Susan plays doubles at 4. We all play at the Foot-Ball club.
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
Lisbon Castle
Lisbon, Portugal
Saturday August 10th
Well, although we got back late last night after the medal ceremonies and watching the 55 women’s and men’s matches, we got up reasonably early in order to reach the Lisbon castle by around 9am, before it got crowded. We succeeded and had a nice time walking all around the castle and seeing the beautiful views of the city. The castle is quite old and though only the walls are intact, is quite impressive with its ramparts, and thick walls…it looks exactly as a castle should to Americans.
The roads leading up to the castle are barely a car’s width wide and are mostly cobblestoned. There were a number of tourist shops on the ground floors with Saturday laundry fluttering from the windows a floor or two above the cobblestones. Cork and tile are very popular gifts here along with fish-themed dish towels.
After looking around the castle we walked back to where we’d started and taste tested another pasteis de Nata, and this one passed muster so we bought a dozen. There are two left (in fairness, we are now a group of five).
I met up in the afternoon with Jenny Klitch from Florida and we had a good hit at another club. In the middle of our hit a whirlwind came through the court. They are pretty common in California, but apparently not in Ohio or Florida where Jenny’s from! The courts were hard and similar to the way the ones at Jamor were at the beginning of the week, before they put more clay on the courts.
Tracey Thompson from USA won today easily (apparently she hit so many winners she needed a practice after her match, which had very few rallies.). Jenny Cerff, RSA, plays tomorrow while the rest of us have the day off. We are all going to practice and obviously, buy more Pasteis de Nata!
Draws Now Available for ITF Seniors Individual World Championships
USA Wins Alice Marble, Von Cramm and Maria Bueno Cups in Lisbon; Finishes Fourth in Maureen Connolly
Lisbon, Portugal, Friday Aug 9th
The USA three of six cups at the 2019 ITF Seniors World Team Championships in Portugal, and none of the victories were easy today, with all three teams splitting singles and winning the deciding doubles point.
The most nerve wracking part of our day was when Susan opened up her racquet case to discover that…her strings had broken yet again! The one that she’d never hit with broke in a second spot and the one she’d just had strung yesterday also broke overnight. So she couldn’t even warm up with us. She had one strung with a multifilament string (instead of gut) and hit with it; during the rain delay I had her string the second one. So she was set to play with something other than natural gut for the first time ever.
The Alice Marble Cup (W60) beat France to regain the Cup they lost last year to Australia. I played #2 singles and lost rather badly to Catherine Suire who really played well. Then it rained and there was a two hour delay. When play resumed, Diane Barker was up at #1 against Betty Michel and won the first set 62. The second set was closer, but after having match points at 54, Diane closed it out 75 to send the match into the doubles. Since Susan’s strings were still intact, Diane and Susan Wright took on Benedict LeGrand and Suire. They were down early but rallied to 45 and nearly leveled the set before dropping it 64. They made some adjustments and took the second 63, and went up 1/0 in the third. Suire took a medical time out and had her ankle taped (we thought she was cramping but apparently not). Nonetheless Suire played aggressively, hitting her share of winners, and LeGrand moved well and covered many lobs. Susan and Diane (the MVP of the Cup) won the third and the Cup 63.
The men’s 60s was perhaps more dramatic. They played Germany. Danny Waldman won a tough three-setter at #2 singles; Mark Vines fell to Norbert Henn at #1 singles. Mike Tammen and Danny (MVP of their team) won the deciding doubles in three sets though the third set was won emphatically by the USA. Tammen is an amazing doubles player and Waldman is also a terrific doubles player though with a different style. They dedicated their win to Wes Cash who was originally on the team but had to withdraw when his wife became ill.
The Maria Bueno Cup team beat Spain 2/1. They dropped the first three sets of the tie, and won the next four. Julie Cass lost at #2 singles; Debbie Spence Nasim won at #1, playing her third singles three-setter in as many days, winning 67 62 61. Nasim/Ros Nideffer won the doubles point decisively 60 63 to retain their title. They had to play indoors due to bad weather. Photos below by Andrea Rice.
The USA Maureen Connolly Cup team fell to France 2/1. Shelly Works was down a match point at #2 singles and hit the back of the line to level the game; she ended up winning in three sets. Vicki Buholz lost at #1 singles. Mary Dailey/Buholz, playing under lights, lost a tough one 75 in the third, playing till about 10pm. They earned copper medals for fourth place.
The Austria Cup team, men’s 55, finished around 10pm as well, falling to Italy in both singles, and finished in 6th place.
The Fred Perry Cup team, men’s 50, finished 7th, beating Germany 2/1 in the 7/8 playoff.
The individual World Championships begin tomorrow.
Draws Now Available for ITF Seniors Individual World Championships
Photos from World Championships
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
USA Men’s & Women’s 60 & Women’s 50 Teams Advance to Semis; USA Men’s 50 & 55 Fall in Quarters in Porgtugal
Lisbon, Portugal
The top seeded USA Alice Marble Cup team (W60) advanced to the final with a 2/1 win over 5th seeded Argentina. USA won both singles (Carolyn Nichols 61 61 and Diane Barker 62 60) but fell in doubles (Susan Wright and Robin Harris) to an exceptional Argentine doubles pairing featuring Betty Villaverde. It was a really good match. We play Great Britain tomorrow. The #2, 3 & 4 seeds all had a bye today.
The top seeded USA Von Cramm Cup team (M60) advanced to the semis against Australia, winning both singles against Great Britain behind wins by Danny Waldman and Mark Vines.
The USA Maria Bueno Cup team, seeded #1, edged Great Britain today 3/0. Julie Cass won in straightforward fashion over Katie Shaw but Debbie Spence, playing #1 against Teresa Caitlin, GBR barely got over the finish line first, winning 36 63 76 (2). The doubles was won by the USA by default. They face #3 France tomorrow. France had a rest day today.
The 7th seeded USA Fred Perry Cup team (M50), lost 2/1 to Italy. Eoin Collins lost a close and tough match at #1 singles 64 in the third; Dana Gill at #2 fell in straight sets and Willie Alumbaugh/Greg Paukstis won the doubles point in a match tiebreak.
The Austria Cup (M55) lost to a very strong Austrian team, dropping both singles points. Stu Saiki fell at #2 singles and Bill Moss lost to a very tall guy who hit amazing, heavy forehands and great drop shots.
Immediately after the finish of her doubles match, the strings in both of Susan’s racquets broke…the one on the left without every being hit. She’s recently moved to Florida and had them strung at the USTA National Tennis Center…on one the knot clearly broke. So we had to go back to our apartment, get string, and get a racquet strung so she has something to hit with tomorrow. (Fortunately I had some Babolat gut on me, though of a different gage.)
We taste tested another Pasteis de Nata (Portuguese cream tart) at the tennis center today…so far the ones we stumbled across the first day are still in first place, though these weren’t bad and are backed on site.
We have the gala dinner tonight. I’ll report on that tomorrow as it will be late when we get back.
Draws Now Available for ITF Seniors Individual World Championships
Photos from World Championships
The draws for the ITF Seniors Individual World Championships are now available. Click here to view.
The women’s 60 singles draw features three of the USA Women’s 60 team as the top three seeds including multiple world singles champion Diane Barker at #1.
Lisbon, Portugal
I left Mallorca early this morning and flew via Madrid to Lisbon. The view from the air was fantastic. The only worrisome part of the flight was that just as the plane was approaching the airport, it aborted the landing and circled again, but the landing, while rough, was adequate.
The airport was packed. I got an Uber to my hotel. At least for now, after you arrange the Uber, they tell you to go down to the departures level and cross the street to a temporary and very busy parking area. The first Uber driver left me (I saw him just as he took off). But the second driver found me, and the hotel.
I checked in, and then wandered around Lisbon for a while, though I didn’t go to any of the big sights…I’m sure we’ll do that as a team. I had lunch at a local restaurant which was packed with business people and the menu was largely seafood. I had some fish, then started walking around. The tiles on the exterior of some buildings was very pretty.
I found a gigantic El Corte Ingles…in size it rivaled the Macy’s in midtown NYC. Of course I had to find the grocery store there and found the peanut butter I was searching for, so I’m happy.
Judging by the items in the store, both Iberico ham and seafood of every type are popular here. I even saw a ham leg in a wooden crate which looked like a casket for the very expensive pork.
I used the metro to go back from El Corte Ingles to my hotel. And before I had ever bought I ticket I showed some French tourists how to buy the ticket and a ride (you have to buy a card for 50 cents then you add money to the card, sort of like an Oyster card in London (though not as sturdy). Then I got my card and was on my way!
My hotel has a very nice view from the top which I enjoyed in the evening.
Susan Wright and Jenny Cerff arrive tomorrow and Diane Barker and Robin Harris the next day…let the games begin.
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
This is the page where the draws for the ITF Seniors World Team Championships are now posted (along with blog articles) and where the ITF Seniors Individual World Championships will be posted.
The Individual Championships are from August 10-17
Blog Articles:
Click here to see a list of USA players participating in the team competition in Lisbon.
Draws will be linked here (once available)
Photos (link will be posted here about August 10th & updated during the competition)
2019 ITF Super Seniors Team & Individual Draws, Results & Photos as Available & List of USA Team Players
To see the list of USA players, click here: 2019 USA Super Senior Teams Announced by USTA
