Draws for the ITF Masters Individual World Championships, Turkey (65-90 Divisions)

Livestreaming link can be found HERE (four courts).

Our doubles final seems like days ago now! Anne Frautschi and I played at 10am against Sabine Schmitz (GER) and Karien Theeuwes (NED). Anne played amazing and I even served and volleyed (to the surprise of our opponents). We won 1,2 to win the gold medals and ITF Masters World Championships in 65 doubles.

After our match we went to cheer on Chuck Kuhle who was battling hard to win the “bonus” draw (consolation), and he battled successfully. I then went to eat lunch, stretch and do my shoulder exercises before going to watch Susan Wright play the mixed final and Betsy Kuhle/Una Davis play the 70 doubles final; plus there was an all-American 80 mixed going on (won by Andi Polisky/Dean Corley).

Susan and Paul French beat Schmitz/Martin Cornish 63 63 in a well-played match on a very windy and cool/turning cold afternoon.

The last match of the day was the 70 doubles, delayed because one of their opponents, Kerry Ballard, had a long three-setter in 75 singles earlier and needed rest time. The match was full of twists and turns, underhanded serves (one Betsy served was an ace). Betsy and Una won the first set pretty routinely, playing well, overpowering their Aussie opponents (Ballard and Sally Van Rensburg). The Aussies came back to win the second set 76, as the Americans got tight and a bit injured. After a short break, a match tiebreak was played and Betsy/Una won it 10-7. There were a lot of good points but the wind played havoc with the ball. I was sitting on an adjacent court and the wind was blowing my way…I ended up fielding half a dozen or more stray balls back to the players.

Jimmy Parker beat Fred Drilling to win the 80 singles, edging him 36 60 (10-7).

Canadians Tim Griffin/Chris Burr won the 75 men’s doubles and Tim was a singles finalist today.

After the match, the medal ceremony took place for the matches finished by Friday. One thing that’s evident is that tennis players here all seem about 10 or more years younger than their chronological age. You get used to 80 year olds hopping off the platforms, dancing up to the podiums, squatting to take photos…then in real like that’s not always the case! The ceremony went till about 6:30 and it got very cold…my thick down jacket was the envy of many players tonight! Tomorrow Susan and I play our singles final at 10am. One more Groundhog Day, then a break for a few days!