There were a lot of great matches at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club today in La Jolla, CA.
In the 50s, Kristen Kepler edged #4 seeded Anna Zimmermann in three sets, a reversal of their result last month on clay. La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club member, and an altogether great person (I mean, her nickname is “Bubbles” because of her bubble personality…she’s never met a stranger), Jenny Rens Keller upset #3 seeded Michelle Saunders 62 46 61; in the second set Jenny stopped attacking but she rectified that in the third. She joins her doubles partner Jen Dawson, and Andrea Rice in the semis.
Rice/Zimmermann lost the first set to Krista Oconnor/Lisa Traylor before rallying for the win; Oconnor/Traylor play together a lot whereas it’s Rice/Zimmermann’s first tournament together. They face Deb Higa/Jennifer Lyons in one semi while Abbi Neuthaler/Kepler take on Dawson/Keller.
In the 60s, the match of the day was that between Tina Karwasky and Cindy Johnson. Johnson quickly won the first set 60 and seemed on the way to a straight set win, leading 3-0 in the second; but Karwasky, the consummate professional, fought back strongly, forcing a third set, which was tight all the way. Johnson prevailed 64, using all of the court to earn the win. Kathy Vick played a good first set, and lead 5-3 but came up just short against Susan Wright, 5-7; Susan played a flawless second set winning it 60. Shannon Gordon Carney outplayed Colleen Ferrell Clery 61 62 and I beat Erin Boynton in a tough match (the score doesn’t reflect the quality of the points and games) 62 62. I play Shannon tomorrow.
In doubles, Johnson was also involved in the match of the day. She teamed with Vick to take on Una Davis/Tracey Thompson. Johnson/Vick won the first set 62 and seemed on the cusp of victory after rallying from 3-5 down in the second to level it at 5-5, but Davis/Thompson relaxed, changed their strategy a bit and won 26 75 61. Robin Harris and I won 60 60; Wright/Gordon Carney won a tough match against Karwasky/Carolyn Lane 64 76 and Boynton/Neuthaler beat Sherri Bronson/Kim Dean.
In the 70s, Carol Gay of San Diego blitzed Ann Loose (who played consecutive 3-set singles the past 2 days) 60 60; Judy Dixon won in straight sets; Molly Hahn overcame a set deficit to beat Mary Alice Pisani and Sue Kimball also rallied from a set down to beat Barbara Hubbard. In doubles, the top four seeds advanced; only Gay/Sheila Johnson dropped a set (to Diana Kitt/Pisani).
In the 80s, Lorna Brooks knocked off Dorothy Matthiessen 63 60 to set up an interesting semi with Burnett Herrick. Carol Wood beat Kathie Meyering in a first time meeting and faces Dorothy Wasser next.
In doubles, all four seeds prevailed though Tietz/Wood and O’Sullivan/Oldfield had tough three set wins to reach the semis; they face each other tomorrow. Wasser/Herrick beat Palmer/Brooks and take on Giacommini/Matthiessen in the semis.
Lutz and Price sailed past Sally Fuller/Joyce Vanderpol; both Joyce and Sally had very long three setters yesterday.
