Checket Cup finished today on a breezy note. I didn’t blog yesterday because Mariana Hollman and I were involved in the longest match of the tournament in terms of time, 5 hours. I rallied from 0-4 down in the 2nd set to force a tiebreaker, but lost it…Mariana rallied from 0-4 in the third, changing tactics in the end to win the match. Fran Chandler beat her doubles partner, Susan Boyer 75 53 in a three and a half hour match. Susie Brown and I then lost to Fran and Susan in three sets in a rain delayed doubles match, while Joanne Russell/Mary Dailey won the 45 doubles over Mary Ginnard/Hollman.
Chandler won the 45 singles today in a repeat of last year’s final, but this year took the match in straight sets. Nichols finished third, attacking the net often to beat Boyer 62 61.
Trish Riddel upset Carolyn Wei, whose flat groundstrokes were affected by the windy conditions and by Trish’s fine play. Vesna McKenna beat Michelle King who retired when down 2-4 in the first set, after a fall on the clay, which hurt her left wrist. She rallied to win the doubles with Riddel over Wei/McKenna.
Martha Downing used a terrific serve and backhand and steady forehand to beat Kerry Young in a well played 55s final. Sue Bramlette/Cindy Leprevost won the 55 doubles for the 2nd straight year, beating Young/Margie Cooper in three sets. Janel McGinley/Lou Armstrong were third, edging Carol Clay/Ellen Goodman.
Donna Fales cruised through the 65s draw, beating Luisa Tinelli from Italy in the final. Suzanne Clark beat Sheila Weinstock to finish 3rd.
In the 75s, Mary Boswell, US and World #1, was upset in the semis by the Tennis Club’s Lucille Kyvallos in 3 sets. Nancy Reed beat Rosie Asch in 3 sets in the other final and then beat Kyvallos to win her first 75s title. Asch beat Boswell when Boswell retired after injuring her back. Boswell/Russ won the doubles yesterday over Lee Burling/Nancy Reed.
Betty Eisenstein ran away with the 85s division…her superior mobility should lead her to many victories this year.
Many thanks to the Checkets, Patty Crawford and her crew and the Tennis Club for putting on a great tournament, the Checket Cup.