The Women’s 75 doubles final was completed today. Matthiessen/Van Nostrand edged Dori deVries/Burnett Herrick 75 64 to win the first title in Houston this year. In singles, Carol Wood scored one of her best wins in years, taking out Dori deVries, in a matchup of first year 75s, the “new kids on the block” in the 75s. Matthiessen beat Herrick to reach what seems like her 50th straight final…but it’s more like her 5th straight 75s final. She was getting ready to run for Wood’s wicked drop shots today. Wood and Mary Boswell (what told Carol was the “run Mary run” team….Mary Boswell at 79 has wheels!) beat Belmar Gunderson/Rosie Livings to take the bronze.
In the 65s, Betty Wachob scored her biggest clay court win when she beat Heide Orth to advance to the final. Wachob led a set and 5-3, was a little tentative and Heide also hit some great shots, to tie the match at 5-5. Wachob looked pretty discouraged, dropping her racquet and looking defeated, but it was only temporary…she rallied and closed out the set. She will face Brenda Carter, who beat a resurgent Cathie Anderson 61 76 (5). Carter/Wachob face Orth/Steel in the doubles final.
In the 85s, Rita Price, another “new kid on the block” beat Elaine Mason in THREE hours. It was Elaine’s longest match in a while and though she lost she was encouraged by the fact that she was able to stay out there so long! Rita can run…and dance…and will play Cathie Hall in the final.
In the 45s, Vesna McKenna was on the winning and losing sides of upsets. Shelly Works ousted the 2nd seed in a lopsided match, winning 62 60 to advance to the final. Mariana Hollman won the other semi by default over an injured Anna Zimmerman. In doubles, Kim Cashman/McKenna ousted the #2 seeds, Erika Smith/Mary Dailey in three sets 36 62 61. They face top seeded Hollman/Jerilyn Joseph in the final.
In the 55s, Leslie Airola Murveit advanced to her 2nd final. She beat Janet Mosely 62 ret. inj, (all the long matches all week finally caught up to her). I beat Sherri Bronson 62 64. In doubles, Tracy Viebrock and I beat (Baby) Ruth Young and Sue Sprague 75 60 in a match with lots of momentum swings. We led 4-1, lost 4 straight games, then won 9 straight! We will play Murveit/Bronson in the final, in a repeat of last year’s final…hopefully with a better outcome for us. They beat Chris Ramsower-Pearlstein/Sue Whiting 63 75. Apparently Chris and Sue had to hit several hundred overheads during that match…and couldn’t quite close out the set.
The 35s are underway. Patricia Zerdan plays Michelle King and Leonora Grimshaw, who had a default from #2 seed Leslie Rose, faces Jennifer Toney. In doubles, Dailey/King had a great comeback against Mariuz Calvet-Saiz/Kai Stewrattan, rallying from a set and 41 down to win 26 75 61. They play another Houston team in the final, Claudia Varady/Avery Zercoe.