The biggest Cat II of the year is winding down at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, CA. The Super Seniors have finished and the 35-55 finals take place tomorrow. After the nearly forgotten rainstorm of Monday the weather has been ideal, and the forecasted winds (front page news in the Desert Sun) never arrived.

The top seeds in the womens 35 and 50 doubles each had to go three sets today, with Debbie Higa and Jami Jones outlasting unseeded Alisa Yee and Kristen Hildebrand 64 in the third. The latter team rallied from 25 down to take the first set in a breaker, holding off a set point in the process. Jones/Higa advanced to the 40s final too, beating Jennifer Dawson/Annemarie Brigandi in straight sets. Dawson/Brigandi held off a tough team the day before…Jones/Higa take on the sisters in pink, Jennifer Lyons/Julie Slattery in the 40s and Currie/Haywood in the 35s.

The 45s final pits Kathy Fritz/Brigandi against Alissa Finerman/Erika Smith.

In the 50s, the top seeds, JJ Joseph and Mariana Hollman were upset in a dramatic match which ended under the lights, by Tracey Thompson/Robin Harris. Tracey and Robin won the first set 76. At 3-3 in the breaker, Joseph had to take a medical time out and returned with her knee strapped. Her movement was a little compromised, but she played on, and JJ and Mariana took the second set 75. The third set was tight all the way, with Tracey/Robin finally winning 64, after Mariana and JJ held off three match points at 5-4, 40-0 to deuce the game, before Tracey/Robin won the final two point. Great, long, entertaining points under the lights. I don’t know how they could see to hit so many amazing shots! They play Tracy Worley-Hagen and Jackie Heston in the final.

In the 55 doubles, Robin and I take on Kathy May Fritz/Susan Wright after Susan and I play the singles final.

There were upsets on the men’s side. Art Hernandez, well known for his doubles prowess, played three events, 35 and 40 doubles and 45 singles and is in the singles final tomorrow against Thomas Kong. Hernandez upset #2 seed Curtis Dunn in the semis 76 63.

William Casasis faces Stuart Duncan in the 35s.

Oren Motevassel takes on Carsten Hoffman in hte 40s final.

Ken White, who took out Scott Davis, continued his run through the field, beating Patrick Rea 63 60. He plays Mike Fedderly in the final.

Don Lesage and Maxime Buyckx face off in the 55 final.

For all results, click here: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome_New/Tournament.aspx?T=113619

For photos click here: https://picasaweb.google.com/CarolynANichols/BabolatMissionHills?authuser=0&feat=directlink