Tracy Houk gets the roadrunner award again. She played three hours yesterday to beat Judy Rakela 62 67 62…Tracy had a match point and a relatively easy backhand passing shot in the 2nd set and missed it and was still talking about it after the match. Judy played well and came to the net a lot but Tracy was too steady and mentally tough in the end. Tracy beat Shelly Scott in the final in another 3 setter. 62 36 63. It was under three hours but very physical, the two of them using every part of the court…Shelly hit short angles and came in, Tracy hit passing shots and lobs, great points. Both players were cramping in the third set and nursing injuries, but it was not obvious, as the points remained long and grueling.
Pam Schulz upset Kathy Barnes in the 55s 63 63. Fresh off winning her first USTA ball, a bronze in the 55 indoors (and winning the consolation singles), she was full of confidence and the lefty attacked the net well. She takes on Tina Karwasky tomorrow.
In the 65s, Anne Russ came back from a set down to beat Heather Fiscallini; Fiscallini upset Nancy Garcia in the previous round.
Greta Watson won the 3 person RR in the 60 singles. Carolyn Wei won the 40 singles with a decisive win over tournament referee Chrissie Costamagna. Carolyn Nichols and Leslie Murveit play the 50 singles final tomorrow; Murveit had a good win over Carrie Zarraonandia in the quarters.
In the 35 men’s singles, Jake Bragonnier upset the #2 seed, Shibu Lal in straight sets, avenging his final round loss the year before to Lal.
In the 40s, Rick Kepler and Curtis Dunn won, and play the final tomorrow.