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The individual world championships began on Sunday for the main draw. All the men’s 45, 50 and 55 players played and all the 35 and 40s men without byes. The mixed also started yesterday. Today all the women’s divisions begin play.

Yesterday, Sunday,My doubles partner, Pam Cooke, and I practiced in the early afternoon with Tracy Houk from the 50s team and Anne Kerwin-Payne from NorCal, her doubles partner.

In the late afternoon we went to the opening ceremony. It was Pam’s first opening ceremony. It was different from any opening ceremony I’d been to in past championships. It was in the middle of the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens. Food from sponsors, Brio and PF Changs was set up around the perimeter. Players chatted and ate, then volunteers carrying flags of participating countries (over 50 nations this week) walked quickly past, there were some speeches and a raffle and it was over.

I got a bye in singles and doubles. I think I will play singles tomorrow and doubles on Wednesday. The draw is very tough, but that’s why we play this event!

It’s still very very warm and muggy here.

By Tracy Houk

Today we played France in the finals, and lost, 2-0, both our singles, so they don’t play the doubles. Fran, played at #2 singles, and played the first 2 sets tough. She lost the first set, 6-4, and battled her way back in the second, to take it 7-5. I had to leave and cool off with a shower and get ready for the next singles match, after the third set was played. Yesterday against Italy, I stayed during Fran’s 3 1/2 hour match and I came up flat, when I went on. So, today, I tried to get myself ready. I heard Fran was up 2-1 in the third , and I was getting ready to go up next

When I heard the news, that France won 6-2. I got out on the back courts for a quick warmup with Gee Gee Garvin, from the USA 35 Team,  Suzanne Lenglen. The day was pretty warm and very humid. We started our match with service breaks, and as the points got longer, I felt like I had a chance to move her around and tire her out. Unfortunately, a couple points got away from me, and I lost the first set 6-3. But, I was moving well,

And she was starting to tire. We were battling back and fourth, I went down 2-0 on the second, but ran down some shots, that turned it around for me to go up 3-2, and I could see that she was fading with the heat. I was making her hit a lot of balls, and she was starting to miss. I felt the momentum change in my favor, but, a few loose points got her back in, and she went for some big shots and made them. We were tied at 4-4, and I was up 40-15, and lost that game for her to serve for the match. She went up 40-0, and I dig deep to get it to 40-30. We had a long rally, she dropshot me, I ran it down, hit it deep in the corner, she lobs, I’m running back for it, wind blowing against me, I thought it would go deep, it drops in, and there goes theatch, and the title. Remember, next time. When in doubt, HIT IT !!!!!!!! It was a tough loss, but Team Maria Bueno played tough all week ! I couldn’t be more proud, to be on this team, and have such great fighters and team spirit. Best teammates ever !!!

Thank you, Fran Chandler, Vicki Buholz and Judy Newman. Good luck at Imdividuals. See you there !!!

Updated Saturday Morning (see below) 

USA Connolly Cup beat GBR in a long match; we started play at 11:30 and it was already hot and muggy, a summer Florida day in April. We finished a little after 6pm with a victory and in between there was a lot of running and sweating and watching and coaching.

Susan Wright took on Chris French, an accomplished player and won the first set 61. She led 42 when a combination of Chris’ fine play, the heat and the length of the match took its toll and Chris rebounded to win the final sets 64 63. So USA was down 1/0 to start the day, a rare occurrence.

Diane Barker took the court against the British #1, Anthea Stewart and played a brilliant match! She took away any though of moonballing by Anthea by taking the ball out of the air and angling the volley when Anthea lifted the ball. Diane played her game and won 61 63; she even hit an ace when serving for the match.

After a 30 minute break, Susan and Tina Karwasky took the court against Sue Bartlett/Ann Clark. They started strongly, going up 4/0, the Brits rallied to 4-5 and Susan served it out. Tina and Susan won the second set 62 to give the USA the Connolly Cup for the 8th straight year!

I didn’t play yesterday, but was taking photos, on the court coaching (or staying out of their way!) and cheering. It was so hot and I felt as if I’d played a match by the end of the day.

The Court Cup team also had to come from behind to win their Cup, with Jolene Watanabe accounting for the singles point at #1 and the doubles point (with Alissa Finerman). For more on the Court Cup, click here.

The Bueno Cup team won at #2 singles and doubles. For more on the Bueno Cup, click here.

Saturday Update:

Lenglen Cup: USA finished ninth, winning both playoff matches (against Argentina and Brazil) after finishing third in its round robin group. Yulia Bolotova at #2 and Fanny Gamble at #1 won the singles and combined to win the doubles point.

Young Cup: USA fell to Spain 3/0. Florida’s Vesna McKenna, with Julie Cass lost in three sets in the doubles. Patricia Zerdan at #2 and Sophie Woorons-Johnston at #1 lost tough matches in the singles.

Bueno Cup: USA edged Italy 2/1. Fran Chandler won at #2 singles in three sets, overcoming cramps to win; Tracy Houk, lost at #1 singles and Judy Newman/Vicki Buholz won the doubles point in straight sets. They play France in the final today.

Italia Cup: The USA lost on Thursday 2/1 to Great Britain (winning the doubles point). Michael Halperin, Boca Raton lost 63 64 at #1 singles. They had the day off yesterday and play #6 seeded Germany for fifth place, a big improvement on the USA’s 17th place finish in 2013.

Trabert Cup: The USA lost to Italy 2/0 yesterday to finish 7th, also a big improvement over their 13th place finish in 2013.

Dubler Cup: The USA beat Germany 2/1. Oren Motevassel won at #2 in straight sets; Jeff Tarango won in three sets and Miami’s Mario Tabares/Art Hernandez lost 12-10 in the third set tiebreak in the doubles. The USA plays France in the final today at the Polo Club in Boca Raton.

Perry Cup: USA fell 2/1 to France in the semis of the Perry Cup, dropping both singles matches  before winning the doubles point. They play #2 seeded Italy for third today.

Austria Cup: USA beat Mexico 3/0 to advance to the Austria Cup Final against Australia today at PGA National.

The Connolly Cup team had the day off today: we practiced early, then watched the men’s 40s (Trabert Cup) play on Center Court against Canada. Ironically, the captain, Guillaume Gauthier is a naturalized American citizen and is from Quebec, Canada! The tie lasted a long time. Michael Chang (not that Michael Chang) from SoCal lost a 3 hour match at #2 singles; both players needed medical time outs during the long match; then Guillaume won in straight sets at #1 and Rick Witsken/Willie Quest won the deciding doubles 4,2..whew!

The USA Lenglen Cup team wasn’t as fortunate. Playing a tough Dutch team, they started well with SoCal player Gee Gee Garvin winning at #2. Simona Bruetting, the #1, lost a tough 2-setter at #1 and Simona and Gee Gee lost the doubles point. The USA were seeded #3.

The USA Young Cup team won against Estonia 3/0, though Sophie Woorons-Johnston at #1 singles had a tough 2-setter. Patricia Zerdan at #2 singles won comfortably and Vesna McKenna/Julie Cass won easily.

The following Cups had a bye and play tomorrow: women’s 45, 50 55 and men’s 35, 45, 50 & 55.

My doubles partner for next week, Pam Cooke, flew in today to West Palm Beach and I picked her up and we practiced some along with Susan, and had dinner. We had to make a Costco run for bread (they have the best bread there from Arrowhead Mills…) for Susan, Pam and me.

Early practice tomorrow for me with Pam; we warm up at 10:50-11:10 then start play at 11:30 against Turkey.

Photo below of deciding match, men’s 40 USA vs Canada. USA in red shirts.

Competition started today, for most teams. We had a bye, so we practiced early, for a few hours, and watched our opponents, Mexico and Canada battle it out. We play Canada on Tuesday, Mexico on Wednesday. We also watched Australia and Switzerland fight to the end, in doubles, after a 1-1 tie in singles play. It was a quiet evening, with an early dinner, just Team Bueno. We had our first team meeting, and ready to take the courts tomorrow. We will have Spamgles, our Team Mascot on the court with us.

Go USA !!!