A Senior Tennis (USA and International) & Travel website by Carolyn Nichols
Sue Bramlette, the tournament director for the National Senior Women’s Clay Court Championships (NSWCCC) in Houston, Texas, after consulting with the COO of the Houston Racquet Club (HRC) and the membership director of the HRC has concluded that the HRC will not be able to host the NSWCCC in 2020.
There were a number of issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic that would or could impact the hosting of the tournament this year.
The HRC plans to host the tournament in 2021.
For future USTA updates click here.
The publication of the National Standings list has been suspended along with tournament, league and other USTA programs until at least June 1st, 2020.
The entirety of the April 13th post from USTA.com is posted below.
Update on Suspension of Play and Event Changes – April 13, 2020
Due to the continued situation surrounding the COVID-19 virus, and after discussions with the USTA Medical Advisory Committee*, effective immediately the USTA will extend the suspension of USTA sanctioned products and events through May 31. This includes:\
• Adult and Junior Tournaments
• USTA League
• USTA Junior Team Tennis
• USTA Social Leagues
• Team Challenge
• Team Tournaments
• USTA Schools programs
• Tennis on Campus
• Wheelchair events
Additionally, recognizing the evolving and fast-changing nature of this situation, the USTA will continue to monitor and assess conditions to make future determinations about events and activities taking place after May 31.
All Category 1 and Super Category 2 National Adult Tournaments with an ITF status, all ITF Junior events, all Junior, Adult and Wheelchair L1 – L3 events, and all USTA Pro Circuit and professional events will align with the same calendar as the ITF, ATP and WTA, and be suspended through July 12. The National Clay Court Championships, slated to begin on July 11, will proceed as scheduled, at this time.
“The impact of COVID-19 has been felt across the tennis landscape, and it is our goal to ensure that the sport is able to be played in a safe and healthy fashion at the parks and facilities throughout the country once the pandemic subsides,” said Patrick Galbraith, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “One of the greatest aspects of this game is that it fosters a true community, and we look forward to the time when we can return to our local courts and use tennis to unite us all, once again.”
The determination has also been made to suspend the calculation and publication of the National Standings List (NSL) for Adult, Junior and Wheelchair play until further notice. The NSL published on March 18 will serve as the most current until tournament competition resumes.
In addition, to ensure that play taking place at local facilities will be the focus once the pandemic subsides, the following events will be canceled for 2020:
• USTA League National Championships
• USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships
• USTA Junior Intersectional Team Championships
For more information on the cancellation of the USTA League National Championships and USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships, please visit the FAQ.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., is currently closed to the public. The facility’s Indoor Tennis Center has been converted to a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients, while Louis Armstrong Stadium is being utilized as a commissary to facilitate the creation of meal packages that are being distributed to patients, workers and New York City school children.
The USTA National Campus, in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Fla., will remain closed for play and instructional opportunities through May 31.
Any patron who wishes to cancel participation in a scheduled activity should contact the specific location for refund information. These policies will be in effect pending additional guidance or directives from each local governmental agency and the CDC. The USTA will continue to monitor and assess conditions to make future determinations about all activities at these facilities.
* The USTA Medical Advisory Committee includes: Dr. Brian Hainline, Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA and USTA Board Member; Dr. Brian Daniels, MD, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fla., and Medical Director, US Open; Dr. Mark Kovacs, Senior Director of Sports Science and Health, Cleveland Cavaliers; Dr. Bernard Camins, Medical Director for Infection Prevention at Mt. Sinai; Mike Rodriguez, USTA Senior Director and US Open Security.
Palm Beach Gardens Super Cat II/ITF Grade I: Bonder-Kerkorian, Klitch, Nichols & Dixon Win Singles Crowns on Friday Day 4
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Friday was a long and busy day at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center. Matches started early and were only halted after 7pm by a downpour.
Singles:
Lisa Bonder-Kerkorian started off the singles with a win in the 40 singles over Kristine Kraujina 61 62.
Erin Boynton and I started at the same time; Bonder-Kerkorian finished their match about the same time we finished the first set! It was a very close match, with a lot of momentum changes. I won 64 63, but the finish was in doubt till the last point finished. Wendy McColskey beat Terri Thomson 61 64 to finish third.
Jenny Klitch played after her doubles partner Bonder-Kerkorian on the same court and we just managed to finish before Klitch beat Julie Dybenthal 60 61. However Dybenthal was happy with her play and said she played much better than she had last time against Klitch. Laurie Capra beat Jill Sickle 61 61 to finish third.
Judy Dixon edged Toni Novack 76 76 in a repeat of last year’s 70 clay court final. Toni said Judy played great. I watched a bit of that match and Judy moves really well and was able to get to many of Novack’s deadly drop shots. Brenda Carter received a default from Molly Hahn, so finished third.
In the 80s, Susanne Clark beat Burnett Herrick and Grace Woo edged Carol Wood 76 in the third; the doubles partners face each other in the final today (weather permitting).
The 30s is a round robin; however Elizabeth Kobak of NY has won the division winning all three of her matches including a 63 63 win over Bonder-Kerkorian.
Doubles:
The 30s had only two teams but Kristen Charlton/Grace Haggerty got their money’s worth in one match, winning 61 36 76 over Kobak/Jennifer Einhorn.
The 40s final is today (weather permitting) and pits Klitch/Andi Piski agains Tara Pressley/Julie Axelrod.
The 50s was won by Klitch/Bonder-Kerkorian over Boynton/Abbi Neuthaler 61 63. Karen Rembert /Alice Stubbs beat Daniella Esswein/Dybenthal in three sets to place third.
The 60s semis have Aimee Norris/Anne Frautschi against the winner of the rain interrupted match between Neuthaler/Kim Jones and Anne Jacobs/Kathy Zanon which is tied at 22 in the third.
Carter/Dixon won the 70s over Sue Kimball/Pam Simons (who upset #2 seeds Sue Bramlette/Hahn). Carol Clay/Ellen Goodman won the 3/4 playoff by default.
Carter/Dixon; Weber/Wood; Simons/Kimball; Ellen Markowitz, Weber/Boynton, Clark/Woo
Bottom: Trish Faulkner/Boynton/Nichols; Boynton/Bonder-Kerkorian
Photos can be found here. (I will be adding action photos over the weekend to this album.)
All tournament results can be found here.
Palm Beach Gardens USTA Super Cat II/ITF Tournament
Palm Beach Gardens ITF Grade 1/USTA Super Cat II, Day 2, Wednesday
Palm Beach Gardens Grade 1/Super Cat II Thursday, Day 3
Wednesday: Singles & Laundry Successes
Santiago, Chile
Today I played my first match, against Austria’s Shirley Friedl. She is a nice lefty player, but I played pretty well and the altitude helped my high balls jump a bit and I won 60 60. It’s always an enjoyable, fair match. We played on Court 1 and again, the courts this year are playing much much better than five years ago. I don’t know what they’ve done but kudos to the grounds people for making them so nice to play on.
After the match (and a short massage, $8 for 15 minutes and the guys working in the massage area are good and seem to be pretty knowledgeable physical therapy.
After lunch I decided to see if the app I downloaded to pay for the laundry machine worked. What one does is open the app, give it access to your camera and then point it at the QR code on the machine you want to use. The laundry is in the basement, but there was some cell service there (this wouldn’t work without it), but it was slow. It took a few minutes but I managed to get both machines working, so I will have no more issues with a lack of coins for the machines.
While I was waiting for my laundry to finish, I went to the Unimarc for some food and sunscreen. The packaging all has warnings (not the carrots I bought of course)…the chocolate says high in calories, saturated fat and sugar. As a result it’s quite good.
I think I figured out why the stores were all closed early yesterday…buses stopped running at 5pm, and the metro shortened its hours, and there were more demonstrations at the Plaza Italia, and also in other cities in Chile. But there’s not much in the English language newspapers I can find. In Las Condes today, it was business as usual, and calm. But downtown, in the center, it’s a different environment.
Practice Day 2, Santiago, Chile
Practice Day 3, Monday, Santiago
Santiago Tuesday: Last Practice Day
Note that this is not a complete schedule.
USTA will publish the 2020 Category II schedule here.
| Date | Tournament | Category (Super Category II or Category II) | Surface | ITF Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 18-26 | Wilson World Tennis Classic Shadow Mountain Resort & Club, Palm Desert, CA | Super Cat II | Hard | Grade 1 |
| Jan. 21-27 | West Coast Super Seniors Grand Prix, Sanchez-Casal Academy, Naples, Florida | Super Cat II | Clay | Grade 1 |
| Feb 24-March 1 | Raymond James, St Petersburg CC, St. Petersburg, FL | Super Cat II | Clay | Grade 1 |
| Postponed | Bermuda Cat II, Coral Beach & Tennis Club, Warwick, MB | Designated Open sectional | Clay | None |
| November 18-22 NOTE NEW DATES | Bocage Racquet Club, Baton Rouge, LA | Super Cat II | Clay | |
| Postponed | Southern Men's Clay Open West Jackson, MS | Cat II (Men's divisions only) | Clay | |
| Cancelled (possibly postponed, check website for updates) | Atlanta Sr. Invitational Atlanta, GA . | Super Cat II | Clay | Grade 1 |
| Postponed to 2021 | Berkeley Tennis Club Berkeley, CA | Cat II | Hard | Grade 1 |
| TBA | Westwood Sr Championships Austin, TX | Super Cat II | Hard <65 Clay >65 | Grade 1 |
| Postponed to 2021 | Midwest Clay Carmel Racquet Club Carmel, IN | Super Cat II | Clay | Grade 1 |
| TBA | Lynchburg City Open Oakwood Country Club Lynchburg, VA | Cat II | Clay | None |
| TBA | Marin Seniors, Mill Valley Tennis Club, Mill Valley, CA | Super Cat II | Hard | Grade 1 |
| Postponed to 2021 | Jack Dorsey Wheeling Oglebay TC Wheeling W. VA | Super Category II | Clay | Grade 1 |
| TBA | Senior Slam, Guilford, CT | Hard | ||
| TBA | Ed Rhawn, LBC Louisville, KY | Clay | ||
| July 7-12 | Aston Park TC Asheville, NC | Designated Open Sectional | Clay | |
| July 27-Aug 2 | CANCELLED Washington State O & Srs Seattle TC, Seattle, WA | Hard | ||
| August 18-23 | CANCELLED El Paso Tennis Club El Paso, TX | Designated Open Sectional | Hard | |
| September 13-20 | Pacific SW Champs. Palisades TC Newport Beach, CA | Designated Open Sectional | Hard | |
| October 22-25 | Texas Super Seniors McFarlin Tennis Center San Antonio, TX | Designated Open Sectional | Hard | |
| November 2-6 | Las Vegas Senior Open, Darling TC, Las Vegas, NV | Designated Open Sectional | Hard | |
| November 2-8 | Top Gun Tennis Chmpshps Orange County CA | Designated Open Sectional | Hard | |
| November 30 to Dec 6 | Longboat Key TC Longboat Key, FL | Designated Open Sectional | Clay | |
| December 9-13 | Phoenix Fiesta Senior Scottsdale, AZ | Designated Open Sectional | Hard | |
Note that this is incomplete and until links are added is tentative. Dates taken from USTA.com. Check tennislink for up to date information. I will be adding links in the next few weeks.
The dates for the 40-80 clay differ on tennis link and the USTA.com schedule. I have posted the tennislink dates. The USTA.com schedule (without a link) shows dates of April 7-12.
Official Category I Schedule from USTA.com.
From the USTA Adult National Tournament FACEBOOK Page:
World Championships Day 4: Played a Match!
Lisbon, Portugal
It’s Tuesday in Lisbon; the Individual World Championships began Saturday and due to byes and a default today was the first day I played a match of any kind. Robin and I played at the Club Internacional de Foot-Ball, and won 61 60 against two nice women, Salete Nery from Brazil and Elize Preuyt from So Africa. Nery has only been playing eight years and Elize works full time as a teacher, but both love the game and are enjoying the world championships. We are now into the quarters.
Susan Wright and Pat Medrado won their first round by the same score. Jenny Cerff and Tracey Thompson dropped the first three games of their match today and then won the next 8, winning 63 62. Both teams are in the quarters and on a semifinal collision course. Tracey won her second round singles match and Diane Barker won her first, both are into the round of 16 now, with Susan Wright and myself.
Other American results:
Women: Jenny Klitch in women’s 50s is into the quarters. Fran Chandler fell in a very well played match to Helga Nauck from Germany, the 3rd seed 64 75. Shelly Works lost to Mariana Metola of Argentina in the round of 32. Vicki Buholz won a contentious match with Marina Korepanova of Russia 64 in the third..her reward, a meeting with top-seeded Klartje Van Baarle of Belgium, new to the age division. In doubles, Fran Chandler/Shelly Works advanced; Buholz/Gayle Prejean won and Mary Dailey was playing with Van Baarle.
Men: In the 50s, Dana Gill fell to #7 seed Fernando Granero of Spain 62 76; in the 55s, Willie Alumbaugh upset #2 seeded Simon Arms of Australia in three sets to reach the round of 16; Scott Works fell to Michael Kudinoff of Sweden 76 62, but had beaten the #16 seed a day earlier; in the 60s, defending champion and top seed Mark Vines is into the round of 16 as is Danny Waldman; Waldman faces Glenn Busby of Australia there. In doubles Waldman/Norbert Henn, Busby/Vines and Ross Persons/Joakim Berner are still going.
In mixed, Vicki Buholz/Jerome Vanier (France) are in the round of 16 in the 55s; in the 60s, Jack and Diane Barker take on the first seeds in the round of 16 and #2 seeded Ross Persons/Robin Harris are also in the round of 16.
The order of play isn’t out yet, but given that it’s Wednesday tomorrow and we are in the round of 16, I assume we have the singles round of 16 tomorrow.
Draws Now Available for ITF Seniors Individual World Championships
2019 ITF Senior Team & Individual Information, Draws, Results, Photos
Bordeaux, France
Sue Bartlett and I played the 60s final today and finally played on Court 1, which was a good court! We were the 4th match after 9am (and not before 1:30). Fortunately, the three previous finals were straight sets, so we got on court not long after 2pm. And then we hogged the court for nearly three hours. The first set was very long, and had a rhythm till the end; we actually were on serve till 5-5 with no breaks which for 60+ women on red clay was sort of amazing. We had a lot of long deuce games though, starting with the first one which lasted over 10 minutes I think. I finally broke at 5-5, won the first point of the next game….and then lost 8 points in a row, then won 7 straight to win the set 76 (4). The second set was also tough. I got up 4-0 because Sue slowed down, then she seemed to get a second wind and won 3 games straight. I managed to close out the set 63, but it took quite a few match points. Sue played really well and I scrambled well. As one spectator told me, she volleyed well and I had good legs for running.
Ross Persons had a tough match with Pierre Godfroid in the men’s 60s final, losing 76 75. Ross said he had some set points in the first set but that Godfroid came up with big serves on the big points and accurate volleys. Persons though won the men’s and mixed doubles.
Darren Price fell in the semis of the men’s 45 doubles in a match tiebreak (navigating those is tricky) and Catherine Taylor (Mary on the draw) lost her first round robin doubles match, but has another tomorrow.
I didn’t see much this year of Bordeaux. I had to play one match each day at an undefined time and also had smashed my toes at the beginning of the week; they were ok by today but I couldn’t walk a lot on them till today. But I had a nice time, loved the local food and club.
There was a nice awards ceremony after the matches finished (they were waiting for us I think) with prize giving, and some food and drinks. I won a huge bottle of wine (see above) which I exchanged for a gift certificate at a local tennis shop which sponsored the tournament. And we received tea towels from the club for doubles (much more portable than wine!). So we all went shopping after the ceremony and I have some more tennis clothes and a RF hat!
The Alles (Adrian plays in the 85s) are at a lot of these tournaments…always smiling and dressed to kill!
I’m off to Mallorca tomorrow to train for the worlds in Portugal. It’s very hot there so hopefully I’ll survive the training Monday!
Previous posts about Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France
I played my second round robin match today against Carmen Lang, who just won the Spanish closed nationals in the 60s. We were the 2nd match after 11am on court 7, the 4th match overall on that court. The 3rd match began about 11:30 but went three sets so we didn’t start till after 2pm. Meanwhile, Court 8 next door was open for hours, till after we finished our match, while many matches were waiting for courts. But I was told that it was not possible to change courts once posted on the schedule.
Anyway, it was my only match, a pleasant afternoon and neither hot nor cold so it was not unpleasant to wait under the trees. I warmed up with Ross Persons who is in the men’s 60 semis after upsetting the #2 seed yesterday. He had the day off from singles today. We warmed up on the slippery fast indoor clay (picture a cement court with thickly painted lines and a lot of red dirt thrown on top and you get the picture…VERY slippery). It was a perfect warm up because Court 7 was also very slippery, very dry, quite fast and had painted lines and clay thrown over cement. It was also pretty windy at times.
I won 61 62, and Carmen played a good second set. She really whacked her forehand any time the ball was short or mid court, and whacked it pretty well to the corners, but also made a fair number of mistakes, which helped me out. We again were given pretty water bottles (which I didn’t’ realize was in my backpack so I carried it home).
I also caught up with some friends I hadn’t seen for a while, Andrew Moraghan, Catherine Taylor and Darren Price. Darren fell in three sets in men’s 50s, Catherine lost in W45 but Andrew won, to face the #2 seed next.
On my way to the club I walked by my favorite Patisserie and sandwich shop for a “poulet aux crudités” or a chicken, veggie and egg sandwich on a fresh baguette. It was wonderful (and I have half left for tomorrow)…all for about $4. On the way back from the club I picked up some carrot salad which is so very good in France and had a wonderful dinner with that, some Tomme cheese and baguette.
Tomorrow Sue Bartlett and I play doubles, our final RR match and then on Saturday we play each other in the singles final. It’s been a pretty spread out schedule with only a match a day starting Tuesday.
June 15, 2019
While on the train to Munich..(highly recommended, beautiful scenery, especially from a Poertschach to Salzburg).
Today I biked around the Wörthersee. The lake is about 10 x 2 miles, though I biked a bit further since I backtracked at one point. Much of the ride has bike lanes or sidewalks and most drivers go pretty slowly.
Poertschach to Klagenfurt is all via a wide bike trail and mostly downhill. I meandered as I was stopping frequently to take photos. I passed at least 3 small red clay clubs. There were a lot of sailboats out on the lake.
In Klagenfurt I veered away from the lake and ended up going in circles partly thanks to google maps (I asked for directions to Velden after losing sight of the lake and it sent me back the way I’d come).
Once I corrected purse I biked on towards Maria Worth, a small village with a pretty church and cemetery. I had a quiet picnic lunch by the sea, then headed back towards Velden at the opposite end of the lake from Poertschach. As I was finishing lunch some large tour buses invaded the small town so I skipped visiting the church again.
A sports car passed me, a Lamborghini I think, then a few miles on there was the sports car ( whether the cause or a witness or Good Samaritan I don’t know) and other cars, and a woman on the ground. The car passed me again before I got to Velden. The Maria Worth side of the lake has only intermittent bike lanes so drivers and bikers (and there were a lot of them) need to be careful.
In Velden it was very crowded as some sort of concourse was going on.. I saw many Maseratis, Lamborghinis, some Ferrari’s, and a few loud muscle cars.
After a stop for ice cream, I headed back for the short leg (mostly downhill too) to Poertschach where I watched the 35 mixed final, then caught my train.
It was a nice 2 weeks at the Wörthersee but I am ready to move on.
And that’s a wrap on the Werzer Cup and European Seniors Championships.
European Singles Champion; Auf Wiedersehen Austria
June 14, 2019, Poertschach am Worthersee, Austria
I played and won the 60 singles here over Karien Theeuwes of the Netherlands 61, 60. My dropshots worked well when Karien wasn’t charging the net…she’s a good volleyer. We had some close games and great points. It was a good two weeks here. Next year the tournament will move, perhaps to Velden, and apparently the Regional Championships designation will disappear. Doubles was a different story, Ellen and I lost in a match tiebreak. We lost the first set 64…lost all the 3-3 no ad games….won some in the 2nd set but got a slow start in the match tiebreak. No ad is a very dissatisfying way to play doubles.
Barbora Koutna beat Laura DiVittori in the 55 singles…she is a very strong singles player, great groundstrokes.
In the women’s 80s, Elizabeth Van Bommel edged Nanda Fischer, in a match tiebreak. But they teamed up later to win the doubles.
I saw the end of the match tiebreak too in men’s 80 singles…Herbert Althaus and his partner prevailed even though Althaus is in the 85s now.
Bruce Barrett and his partner Ornstein won the men’s 70 doubles and were pretty happy. Danny Shaw (USA) and Fritz from the Netherlands fell in a match tiebreak in the final of men’s 65s.
Taras Beyko from Canada won the men’s 50s though only seeded 4th.
The 35s player who injured her ankle was back on the grounds today. I spoke with her…her ankle isn’t broken but she did tear a ligament. She said she was upset with herself that she didn’t win the first set (the injury was when she was up 5-3 in the third) because she didn’t start well. She was on crutches but not in a cast.
And that’s a wrap on these two weeks of tennis…I hope to get a bike tomorrow to bike around the lake then take a train to Munich…to be continued.
Oh…only men played on center court today as usual.
Successful Semis in Poertschach
Successful Semis in Poertschach
June 13, 2019, Poertschach, Austria
The order of play here was posted pretty late yesterday (about 9:30pm), due to the thunderstorms which delayed play. I was scheduled for 9am which meant an early warm up. Fortunately Ellen Neumann and her friend Katy Boeroecz (who was in the 55 semis) allowed me to warm up with them!
I played Cornelia Keller from Germany. We played on Center Court (only women’s matches were scheduled for such an early hour!). I won 60 61 and then watched the other women’s 60s semis for a while. I knew for sure I’d play another lefty, since the other semifinalists were both lefties. In the end Karin Theeuwes of the Netherlands won 75 75 over the #2 seed, Sylvia Reigl.
I also watched a bit of Lucie Schwab’s final…she looked tired and her wrist was taped but she played very cleverly, using lots of spins and angles and drops and won 63 63 to take the 50s division over Karola Thumm. In the women’s 75s, Michelle Bichon beat Heide Orth again, in two close, tough sets. Laura DiVittori beat Katy in the 55s semis and Barbora Koutna took out Lisa Prechtl, so they face each other tomorrow. DiVittori played smart, mixing up the pace of her serve and ground strokes and holding off a determined opponent in the second set, winning 75 64. Koutna used her superior groundstrokes to power past Prechtl. In men’s 85’s, Aussie Adrian Alle lost but German Herbert Althaus won. Werner, the German 80s player I hit with the other day lost to an unseeded player who moved very well. Wayne Crowley of Australia won in men’s 65s. Heidi Eisterlehner, with whom I trained the second day I was here beat Carol Campling of Australia 61 61. Canada’s Taras Beyko was playing top seeded Alexander Lindholm when I left and the two were having a good, even battle in the first set. I ran into Danny Shaw, and American living in Europe. He was playing doubles with Keith Porter of Canada and mixed with an Austrian.
The weather today was great, no rain, sunny and warm. They had a nice display of trophies up today since some finals were already played.
I play the singles final tomorrow and doubles semis (50s).
Sunny Morning, Donner & Blitzen Afternoon
Today was a tale of two different weather patterns: in the morning and early afternoon it was quite warm and muggy, but by mid afternoon it was cloudy and thunder and lightning were heard and seen. And then it rained on and off the rest of the day.
I played Gundi Wieland for the second time in less than a week (we played last Friday). I won 60 60 but it was a better match than last week. We played at a secondary site, the Leonstein Club. The courts there were harder, more level and since it was warm, they were dry too, so the ball ran a bit more on the surface (not that much more…it was still red clay after all).
After our match Gundi and I had a drink at the main club. After lunch I wandered back to the club to scout a match, the winner of which I would play in the semis, Inge from Austria and Cornelia from Germany. Inge hits hard and is very athletic and Cornelia is a retriever with funky but consistent strokes. I left when it started pouring; and went back later…they were still playing but didn’t finish, they are tied at a set apiece and Cornelia up 21 in the third. On the other side of the draw are two lefties, the 2nd and 3rd seeds.
There are a few Americans here. Danny Shaw, who lives in Europe but who is originally from San Diego played Max Bates from Australia first round (not a good draw) and fell in straight sets. Bruce Barrett, M70, won. Veronica Lima de Angelis retired down 3/0 in the third in women’s 60s. Hans Weber, M75, prevailed. Keith Porter, M65, Canada lost in three sets.
The thunder and lightning ⛈ went on till dark, but tomorrow should be a good day. I don’t play tomorrow because Cornelia and Inge didn’t finish. They didn’t finish because they had a 1:30 start since Inge is local and gets afternoon start times every day…the one accommodation impacting the rest of the draw and delaying it by a day. 🤔
Practice Day in Warm and Sunny Austria
While it’s raining in England….it was warm (upper 80s) and sunny on the “Austrian Riviera”, and it’s supposed to hit 90 by Friday.
I had a hit set up today at 11, but my practice partner strained something so I wandered down to the courts to see if I could find someone interested in hitting. I ran into Herbert Althaus who plays in the 85s, and he said his friend Werner needed a hit. Werner is the top seed in men’s 80s and is tall and walks very fast. The court I had been told was at the Leonstein courts up the road, but it turns out it was at the PTC (Poertschach Tennis Club) further up the hill abutting the railroad track (literally right next to the end of the courts). The court reservation had been made by a friend of the person I was supposed to hit with so there was initially a bit of confusion at the PTC as well, but it was soon sorted and we were hitting.
Werner isn’t super fast but he hits a good ball and we had a great hit. It was not only warm but a bit humid and I was soaked at the end.
I went to the store (Billa) to get lunch stuff and drinks (along with a lot of other people, it was pretty packed), and after lunch watched a bit of the match between Gundi Wieland and Ingrid Bruckner. I play the winner tomorrow which, as I expected, was Gundi. Both are lefties…there are a lot of lefties in this draw.
Overall it was a mellow day, really warm and lots of people were swimming in the lake. Or having a drink in the shade.
I play at 11:30 tomorrow (though looking at the schedule, I expect the tournament to be an hour behind schedule) and there’s a pretty good chance of thunderstorms all afternoon so I hope I get the match in without too much delay.
And that’s it for Poertschach today.
Werzer Cup Final Matches; European Regional Championships Draws
Rafa, 12 French Opens; Dominic Thiem…fought so hard. I enjoyed listening the to the French Open final on Radio Roland Garros (Via Tuned In’s ATP Radio station, it’s great), while watching Eurosport. So much easier to watch when you are in the same time zone. Today was a pretty mellow day…watched some seniors tennis, watched Rafa/Thiem, recovery massage etc. Back to practicing tomorrow with Laura Vittori from Italy, then I play my first round of the next tournament Tuesday.
The Werzer Cup finished today with a few singles matches (men’s singles of course on center court while the women were on a side court, that’s the way it goes here). Even when the 50s women’s final featured a fine Austrian player…
Sabine Schmitz and Gundi Weiland won the 60 doubles quite easily today. Gundi teamed with Canada’s Keith Porter to win the 60 mixed. Taras Beyko, Canada, won the men’s 50s. Ted Bowen, USA (whom I just met…he’s from Ft. Lauderdale and has been playing tennis only 5 years!) won the 75 mixed with Kim Blackburn from Australia. That’s about it for North American winners (along with King Van Nostrand, 85 singles and doubles, and Dave Van Den Berg and Karl Placek, M75 doubles).
The European Regional Championships begin tomorrow and I play on Tuesday morning. In my division, the players are pretty similar except Sabine Schmitz has gone home. The 60 singles draw is below and the rest of the draws are here.
I didn’t get to catch much of the French Open today because I had three matches…but did catch Thiem’s third (and final) match point and the first five games of the women’s final..(congrats to Ash Barty!).
I played Sabine Schmitz today and it was a pretty good match, even at the beginning as Sabine is an attacking player who mixed up drop shots and approach shots effectively. As the match went on I countered better and won 62 61, but we had some good points and the range of my lobs (according to Sabine) was spot on (the lines).
After having a drink with Sabine I got ready for our 2:30 doubles match in women’s 50s. We won our first match 64 61 against a Dutch duo. It was no-ad scoring which always comes as a shock to me even though if’s quite common in Europe to play this format.
We agreed to play the final an hour later against Lucie Schwab and Valdone Povilioniene. Schwab is a very good player, a former world champion and once they got warmed up won a lot of points crossing and drop volleying. We had a chance in the first set but lost the 4-3 game, Valdone relaxed then and we lost 64 62. It was a fun match though, good points.
Top: Ellen, Lucie and Carolyn; bottom left, Sabine and me after the match; bottom right, me with the wine and trophy.
After doubles Valdone had to rush off to play mixed while Lucie, Ellen and I went to have a drink (ok, fizzy water for me), and had our photos taken.
Tomorrow I have a day off, practice on Monday and then start the next tournament on Tuesday where I will probably play Gundi Wieland first round.
King Van Nostrand Sweeps 85s; San Diegans Win 75 Doubles
While in a rain delay during Thiem/Novack (and the Barty/Anisimova semi was…streaky).
I won my singles semis against Gundi Wieland from Germany. She beat the #3 seed yesterday; I won 60 60, though we had some good points. Gundi is the second straight lefty I’ve played and I practiced with a lefty most of last week…so it will be a bit weird playing a righty tomorrow! However, I warmed up with my doubles partner, Ellen Neumann who is in the 55s and a righty.
Ellen played an excellent match against Laura DiVittori who is the #2 seed in the 55s. When I started watching it was the beginning of the third set and there wasn’t much between the two of them…believe perhaps. Laura won 75 in the third set, rallying from 1-4 and 4-5 down. Lots of slices and drop shots and from Ellen, great drives, from DiVittori, high changeups at critical times.
King Van Nostrand beat his doubles partner, Herbert Althaus of Germany in the 85 singles final and then teamed with him to beat Hans Jell of Austria and Ashley from New Zealand. Ashely was really happy since they won 8 games. King is on his way home to Florida after this tournament.
Dave Van Den Berg and Karl Placek won the 75 doubles over Peter Pokorny and his partner, and they are off, Dave to Spain and Karl to his native Czech Republic. Karl lost his semifinal singles today.
Lisa Prechtel won her singles today and plays DiVittori in the 55 singles final.
Taras Beyko from Canada was playing again on Center Court and Germany’s Stephanie Kolar was on a side court playing W40.
Michel Bichon beat Heide Orth in the 75s in three sets but they are the top seeds next week, so may play again soon.
They are using Babolat Team balls (not available in the USA…and they come in a metal can!). 8 Euros for 3 balls or you can rent them with a 5 euro deposit. Needless to say we search for lost balls and on the warm up court there is a lot of foliage at the end and side of the court where balls go to hide. So far we’ve found them all.
one.
So the French Open ended early on a delayed quarterfinal day…so I’m writing without that distraction! Who will reach the final: Konta vs Vondrousova; Anisimova vs Barty; Fed vs Rafa; Thiem vs Djokokovic?
Onto the tennis at the Werzer Cup in Poertschach am Worthersee, Austria.
I played my first round match today. I had a good warm up with Laura DiVittori from Italy, who plays in the women’s 55. I played Shirley Friedl who is a good player from Austria (lives in France too). However I won 60 60 in under an hour because she has a bad back, a stress fracture in her right foot and also a partially torn plantar in the same foot. It was nice of her to give me a match (and she won one yesterday), but I hope she heals up soon.
Speaking of injuries…Luisa Gouveia hurt her right arm (she’s a righty with a one-handed backhand)…falling off a hover board while trying to jump (hmmm), so is playing lefty this week and her forehand looks good…she won a match yesterday, but lamented her lack of a serve and volley left handed! She did lose today however.
Karl Placek from San Diego played the #2 seed today in men’s 75, Johannes Muehlenburg from Austria. Placek won the first set, lost the second and it looked bad for him when he went 41 down in the third. Muehlenburg had several points to go up 52, but Karl saved a big one by hitting a behind his back lob over Muehlenburg for a winner. He was in control from then on, even if he didn’t got to net as often as his doubles partner Dave Van Den Berg wanted him to (which was every point). He’s in the semis now.
King Van Nostrand won today in the 85s over Adrian Alle to advance to the final against his doubles partner, Herbert Althaus. Althaus is always smiling, talking, really a nice guy and a good player…my money is on King though.
Bruce Barrett, USA fell to his doubles partner from GBR, Chris Ornstein and they were having a tough time in doubles when I left, playing Velasquez and Hoefling.
In doubles, Ellen Neumann and I have to play in the 50s and are in the semis (5 teams). So that will be a challenge, but hopefully a fun one.
While NOT watching the French Open….
Poertschach am Worthersee, Austria
Unlike Paris, where it rained all day, it was a warm, sunny day in Poertschach, and even a bit humid. I had a great hit with King Van Nostrand and then with Bruce Barrett, so hopefully I’m ready for my first round match tomorrow.
I did scout my opponent a bit. I play a lefty Austrian who is a good solid player, and hopefully we’ll have a good match tomorrow. I watched from the top of the Center Court bleachers and could see the Worthersee and the red clay court at the same time. They played on court 1, which on the weekend was nearly unplayable and covered with weeds. It still has issues (grass growing into the court making the sidelines narrow) but is playing much better.
I also saw Heide Orth play a really nice match against a Swiss player who could move. Heide hits each shot with purpose (her backhand in particular is gorgeous) and won quite handily against a not bad player (she could move!)
The #4 seed, Karin Theeuwes of the Netherlands fell to an Austrian player, Inge Pils-Feichter in straight sets. Pils-Feichter won the Grade 2 last week in Klagenfurt and beat the person who is the #3 seed here so she’s obviously a good player.
My doubles partner, Ellen Neumann played a solid match in the 55s, scoring with several aces and some nice net play against her athletic opponent. She plays Laura DiVittori of Italy next in round robin play.
Dave Van Den Berg and Karl Placek who are from my club at home won their 75 doubles match. Placek, seeded 7th in men’s 75, plays singles tomorrow.
That’s it for today…waiting for the schedule to come out and there are still many matches on court.
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Poertschach am Worthersee, Austria
While watching Wawrinka play another classic, this time against Federer….well, now in a rain delay at 3-3 in the fourth.
Today was another warm and sunny ☀️ day in Austria. I hit for an hour in the morning, and after lunch rented a bike and rode along the sea a bit and stopped by Aldi (called Hofer in Austria). It looked pretty much like an Aldi in the USA with better (and fresh) bread.
After my ride I went back to the club and on center court who do I see but Dave Van Den Berg from Rancho Santa Fe playing the legendary Peter Pokorny. Dave impressed the locals who are used to Pokorny winning 60 60…it was 2,2 and Dave rued his missed opportunities. He played the correct strategy though, serving big and giving Pokorny little rhythm. Pokorny though hits pretty deep and accurately and has a wicked drop shot… When Dave missed his big first serve he got behind in the points.
I set up practice for tomorrow and then stared watching the French Open…
Poertschach, Austria…Planes, Trains and Tennis
Werzer Cup: Hitting With a Legend
While everyone is glued to Tsitsipas/Wawrinka…practicing was going on here in Poertschach (Eurosport switched to cycling in the middle of the match but came back, only to go away to catch viewers up on the day’s events thus far…back for the 5th though!)
I hit with Heidi Eisterlehner from Germany today. Heidi hits a cracking ball, and we had a good hit. We played on a court lined for juniors (a 60 foot court) and it wasn’t easy. The lines are cloth and nailed into the court. And much more visible than the tape lines. The court was pretty bumpy. Apparently it rained a lot the last few weeks and the courts were neglected
