Shareen Lai, unseeded, reached the final of the 30 grass courts at Forest Hills today with the loss of only 2 games…and those were to Laura Ritchey, the #2 seed and a fine player. Who is Shareen Lai? This is what she says on her USPTA website:
" I am from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and have traveled and participated in numerous countries in South-East Asia. I grew up playing junior tennis in Thailand and the Philippines before going to colllege. I graduated from Syracuse University in 2000 (Division I) and achieved a top 50 ITA National Ranking. I participated in Federation Cup for Malaysia in 2001 and SEA games in 1999. I still enjoy competing at a high level and would consider grass my favorite surface. I grew up playing on "shell" courts in the Philippines which is a composition of sand and shells and plays similar to har-tru surfaces. During my free time, I enjoy skiing, playing golf, watching movies and reading."
Recently she won the women’s open division of the USPTA clay court championships and was a finalist at the USPTA grass court championships last fall. She will play Texas’ Patricia Zerdan, also a fine player, in the final tomorrow.
The 40s final will take place Wednesday, with Yukie Koizumi of Japan, the many time defending champion, will take on Mary Johnson, the 2nd seed. Koizumi cruised past her doubles partner, Trisha Judge today. Trisha may have been tired from her three set battle in the first round with Kim Lackey. Mary beat Michelle Wright.
The 40 doubles, with only 6 teams is being held as a round robin, with 2 groups of 3 teams playing round robins, the winners of which will play for the gold. Johnson/Lackey will face Koizumi/Judge.
The 50 doubles are out to the final, which won’t be played till Thursday. The top seeds are facing each other: Susan Wright/Kathy May will take on defending champs Tina Karwasky/Mary Ginnard in the final.
The 60 doubles final also pits the top seeds against one another: Carter/Steel vs defending champs Wilson/Wachob.