Diane Fishburne edged Susan Wright to win the 50 Indoor singles title in Detroit on Sunday 76 67 62. It was their third meeting this year and the two have established themselves as the top two 50 and over players in the world. Wright had 5 set points in teh first set and commented that Fishburne played great on those points, which included one in which Wright hit a serve on the line and Fishburne hit it so early that it was back over the net before Wright could budge. Wright combined with Sherri Bronson to edge Lori Fahrenholz and Janet Bezmalinovich in three sets, 64 57 62. Bez/Fahrenholz rallied from 25 down in the 2nd set to tie the match at a set apiece and the teams were on serve till 2-2 in the third, at which point Bronson/Wright raised their level of play according to Fahrenholz and won the match and the gold. Wright also won the 50 hard court doubles; Fishburne won the 50 hard court singles, so each is half way to a gold slam in the 50s.
Donna Drosner took the singles bronze by default over Marianne Robertson, who injured herself during her semifinal match with Wright (trailing 62, Robertson retired from that match). Debbie Burgess/Drosner took the doubles bronze over Shelly Thigpen/Robertson 64 42 ret, inj.
Robin Keener, seeded second, won her first 40s national, beating Mary Dailey in an all-Florida final 76 75. Keener also beat Sue Kaleel 75 in the third in the semis; Kaleel took out last year’s finalist Capelli and the top seed, Anna Zimmerman to place third. Susan (Mascarin?) Keane/Eva Welsher beat Mary Dailey/Diane Fishburne in an exciting three set final 64 36 62 to win the 40 doubles. Keener/Zimmerman took the bronze over Thigpen/Chrissie Costamagna.