Wednesday, May 14

Temperatures rose to high 90’s, and it definitely made a difference for me in my singles. I played Ellie Hammargren on Court 1. There was no breeze, but I started out strongly. Up 3-1 in the first set, I began to feel nauseous, and called for the trainer at the change over. I managed to win the next game to go up 4-1, and by then I really started to feel ill. Don, the trainer came out, and said I was experiencing heat stroke, and I should stop, because I was just at the beginning of it: I had dry eyes, I had stopped sweating and was getting chills. He gave me Gatorade with salt, and ice packs. I was not going to default at 4-1 !! But, he was right, I just got more fatigued, and could move my feet. Not to mention I was trying to avoid getting sick on the court. I lost the next 2 games, and at 4-3, they brought an EMT out. She was checking on my symptoms, and managed to get some drops for my eyes. It felt like my eyes were being held wide open, and a blow dryer was hitting them. Ellie then went up 5-4, and had a set point, but I mange to save it with a passing shot. I won that game and the next to go up 6-5. I began to feel a little better, but still weak. I wanted to shorten the points, so I played closer to the baseline and tried to dictate the rallies, and believe it or not, came in to volley !!!! I won the set 7-5. 

As much trouble as I was having with the heat, I think it was also bothering Ellie too. She also wanted to shorten the points, and came charging into the net, but made a few more errors, and I began to get momentum. I pulled out the second set 6-2. It was over 2 hours, and I was exhausted, but happy to get through it alive. The other seeds made it through, and the semifinals are set . 

Ros Niedeffer vs Fran Chandler

Tracy Houk vs Judy Newman

In the doubles, Mary Dailey and Erika Smith, the #2 seeds,   lost to locals, Una Davis and Lucia Romanov-Stark.

My partner Anne Kerwin-Payne lost a tough one late in the evening to Hammargren and Jennifer Lyons 7-5 in the third. We missed the BBQ, and I had to order room service at 9:45pm !!! Crazy.

Editors Notes: In other action on Wednesday:

Tina Karwasky, Sherri Bronson, Martha Downing and Rita Giles advanced to the 60s semis; Charleen Hillebrand, Cathie Anderson, Sheila Weinstock and Ann Hunt reached the 70s semis; Margaret Canby, Anneke Balics, Mary John Lynch and Jane Lutz reached the 80s semis;

In doubles, along with Hammargren/Lyons and Davis/Romanof-Stark, Newman/Robin Harris and Tracey Worley/Haas advanced in the 50s; In the 60s, Sue Bramlette/Dee Williams-Horne, Downing/Kathy Bennett; Bronson/Jan Kirkland-Cochran and Karwasky/Ann Stanley advanced to the semis; in the 70s, Hillebrand/Steel, deVries/King, Pang/Russ and Hunt/Weinstock reached the semis; in the 80s, Canby/Ray, Colwell/Jones, Buffington/Winans and Lutz/Austin advanced.

Thursday:

Tracy won a marathon again against Judy, 75 in the third; Ros Nideffer beat Fran Chandler in straight sets; Davis/Romanov-Stark beat Haas/Worley to reach the doubles final.

In the 60s, Karwasky and Downing won their singles and doubles matches.

In the 70s, in a repeat of last year’s final, Hillebrand will face Anderson in singles; in doubles it will be Hillebrand/Steel vs Pang/Russ.

In the 80s, it’s Lynch vs Canby and Canby/Ray vs Buffington/Winans.

Draws here: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=138251