The tennis started early on a cool, breezy Friday. A cold front bringing cold weather and some rain improved the courts’ playability a lot, and the grounds crew did a great job getting the courts ready for play at 9am sharp. Draws are here: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=170979#&&s=7

Cindy Johnson, the #3 seed in the 55 singles, tumbled out of the tournament literally, around 10am…she was playing Susan Boyer, the #5 seed (Susan leading 4/3), fell and broke her wrist. The good news, if there can be some, is that it was her left wrist and she’s a righty with a one-handed backhand. She said she’d broken it before, a decade earlier and was quite certain it was broken and when she came back from the hospital it was with a cast and a prescription for percoset (a pain reliever). However it wasn’t a severe break and hopefully she’ll be back in action soon. Her main concern was her ability to snorkel in two weeks in Hawaii (her on site orthopedic looked pretty skeptical about that).  Diane Barker, Fran Chandler and I won; I play Fran in the semis tomorrow at 9am.

Erin Boynton/Abbi Neuthaler, the 4th seeds, played one of their best matches to oust the 2nd seeds, Ann Pellow/Yvonne Gallop 63 62. They play the top seeds, Betsy Savitt/Kris McDonald in the final. Savitt/McDonald had to go three sets to oust Boyer/Kathy Vick. Ann is holding up her hand in apology for nailing Erin in the back with a volley.

In the 75s, Suella Steel continued her comeback from injury and illness, upsetting the #2 seed, Burnett Herrick 63 63 to advance to the semis against Ria Graham. Ria upset #3 seeded Inge Weber of Canada in three sets, then played (according to Carol Wood) great doubles as Wood/Graham beat Libby Keenan/Lola O’Sullivan to advance to the finals. There they face Steel/Weinstock, who took out Herrick/Dorothy Wasser. Weinstock will also take on Donna Fales in the other semi tomorrow.

In the 65s, Kerry Young, the top seed, defaulted out of the tournament (sore shoulder), but after treatment was able to successfully combine with Sue Bramlette to reach the doubles semis. Sue Kimball, the #3 seed, fell to Simmy Pell in two tough sets and Carol Clay and Toni Novack also advanced. Bramlette plays Clay and Pell faces Novack in the semis. All the remaining doubles seeds advanced, though Clay/Ellen Goodman had to go three sets before taking down Liz Smylie/Elly Learie.

In 45s, Sirianni/Garzon won over Neuthaler/Johnson by default (broken wrist, remember?) and in the 35 doubles, the Canadian duo of Jennifer Bishop/Liane Mar took the title. Bishop and Mar play tomorrow in the semis and Sirianni plays Funk.

The 85 doubles final was held today and Jane Lutz/Rita Price beat Rosie Asch and Louise Russ.