The Crawford Cup, a Super Cat II tournament for women: 35/45/55/65/75/85 started yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s being held at the venerable Lauderdale Tennis Club which has 20 green clay courts. It was in the 80s and windy, a nice South Florida February day.
The 35/45 age divisions were combined and play starts tomorrow in those divisions.
In the 55s, there were 18 players and 8 seeds. It is a really strong draw. I played Marianne Caplan, playing her first clay court tournament in a while. She’s tough though and once she got going the second set was tough. I won 60 64.
Ann Pellow, the 7th seed, lost to local club member Sherrill Colombo who played her tennis at University of Washington. Ann played at Pepperdine so they knew each other. Sherrill used her familiarity with the surface and conditions to win 64 16 63. Her “reward” is a date with Fran Chandler the #2 seed. I play Kathy Vick who beat Suzanne Siegler 61 61. Cindy Johnson took out Erin Boynton 62 60 and now plays Susan Boyer. Diane Barker beat fellow South Carolinian Sally Smith 62 62 and plays Yvonne Gallop who edged Meg Barclay 62 76.
In the 65s all the seeds advanced in straight sets other than Ellen Goodman, who won a tough battle with Jovette Levine when Levine retired down 42 in the third set.
In the 75s, Suella Steel, who just aged up to that division (she turned 74 in December), beat the #5 seed, Grace Woo 62 63. She plays Burnett Herrick, the #2 seed next. Herrick is giving up six years to Steel though. The rest of the seeds advanced to the quarters without incident.
In the 85s, it was a battle of the two most recent World Champions in that age division, Jane Lutz (2013-4) and Rosie Asch (2015). Rosie prevailed in three sets. Rita Price beat Louise Russ in the other 85s round robin match.
In doubles the only upset occurred in the women’s 75s. Libby Keenan and Lola O’Sullivan beat #4 seeded Jane Pang and Grace Woo 63 63 and take on top seeded Carol Wood/Ria Graham in the semis. Steel/Sheila Weinstock play #3 seeded Herrick/Dorothy Wasser on the other side of the draw.
Link to draws: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=170979#&&s=7
Photos tomorrow!