Into the Singles Final in Turkey; Gwenda Ward, Carol Wood/Dorothy Wasser, Jimmy Parker/Fred Drilling, Carolann Castell Win Doubles Titles Thursday in Turkey

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

Livestreaming link can be found HERE (four courts).

Today was Groundhog Day 6 at the ITF Masters Tennis World Championships, more or less…Susan and I warmed up on “our court” at 8:50 for my 10am singles match against Betty Michel, who played #1 for France this year. I played a good match I think, and won 63 63, rallying from 0-3 in the second set (the first time we ever played I lost the first set 64, went up 4-0 and lost 6-4…full circle). I had to use more variation of tactics than normal and it worked with was interesting.

After the match it was time to eat, shoulder exercises, stretch and then watch the afternoon matches, after which I had an interesting massage (basically communication issues, two different translators and finally a substitution), but had a great massage in the end. You had to be there.

Susan Wright/Paul French cruised to a win over a Belgian/Columbian pairing to reach the final; Gwenda Ward, playing with a Finnish player, beat the British team Marjorie Love and Rosemary Wilson in a match tiebreak to win her first individual world championship.

Carol Wood’s comment on her win (with Dorothy Wasser) over a strong German team (Van Boemmel/Gerlatzka) made her believe in miracles…they won 16 64 1/0(8).

Jimmy Parker/Fred Drilling (who play the men’s 80s final tomorrow) edged Dean Corley/Jody Rush by a. similar score, 63 67 1/0 (7).

And Carolann Castell, teaming with Frances MacLennan of GBR easily won the 80s doubles final with a score that would qualify for “Iga’s Bakery”.

Chuck Nelson (USA) and Viggo Holm (DEN) fell in the 90 doubles final to Germans Herbert Althaus/Werner Marx. Michael Beautyman USA and Bernd Martin lost to Canadians Tim Griffin/Chris Burr in the 75 doubles final.

The rest of the semis did not go the way of the Americans today, but tomorrow is doubles final day..Anne Frautschi and I play the final at 10am; Susan and Paul French play the mixed final at 2pm and there are many other Americans in doubles/singles/mixed finals tomorrow.

Tim Griffin, a Canadian, is into the M75 singles final having beaten the #2 and #3 seeds and won the M75 doubles (to go with a team win last week), alongside Chris Burr from Canada.

After tennis and massage more eating of course…the Kitty Godfree Cup team, plus Carol Wood, Chuck Kuhle and a cameo appearance tonight by Dorothy Wasser.