The finals were played today in Ottersweier for the men’s 40-55 and the women’s 45-55. I played Nora Blom at 9am. It was the only match scheduled for 9am and when I arrived at a little before 8, there was no one at the club, as today is a holiday in Germany, and it was sprinkling, and didn’t look too good for playing outdoors. However, the courts were in good condition, no muddy areas, and the rain stopped about 8:45. My final round opponent was Nora Blom, from the Netherlands. We had been warming up all week together, so we warmed up again before the match. I played a good match and Nora didn’t play as well as I’ve seen her play, and I won 62 61, and was up 5-0 in each set. The conditions were really slow and not very slippery, which was good for me, though she also likes those conditions she said. She’s a lefty and has a really goo dropshot off both her forehand and backhand. I tried not to let her hit very many!
Afterwards I watched some other matches, the women’s finals and the men’s 40 and 45 and a bit of another match, 50s men I think. The consensus was that the women’s 55 was the strongest draw there, Nora is a former world ITF champion.
To see all the draws in Ottersweier, click here: http://www.tennis-web.net/trn/1793/
After leaving Ottersweier, I went back to Baden-Baden and checked out the tournament there, and ran into several people who had been in Ottersweier, and a couple of Canadians. I am the only player from the USA here. The draws are now up in Baden-Baden.
Women’s 55: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Damen/Hauptfeld/w55.pdf
Women’s 40: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Damen/Hauptfeld/w40.pdf
Women’s 45: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Damen/Hauptfeld/w45.pdf
Women’s50: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Damen/Hauptfeld/w50.pdf
Men’s 40: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Herren/Hauptfeld/m40.pdf
Men’s 45: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Herren/Hauptfeld/m45.pdf
Men’s 50: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Herren/Hauptfeld/m50.pdf
Men’s 55: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Herren/Hauptfeld/m55.pdf
Women’s 50/55 Doubles: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Damen/Doppel/wd50.pdf
Men’s 40/45 Doubles: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Herren/Doppel/md40.pdf
Men’s 50/55 Doubles: http://www.tc-rw-baden-baden.de/EM2011/Tableaus/Herren/Doppel/md50.pdf
Doubles will be posted later.
Here are some action photos from today…more photos soon.
