USA Finishes at Top of Five Round Robin Groups; All Women’s Teams into Semis in Miami

The USA Young Seniors are taking the home team advantage seriously in Miami Beach: Five of the six teams have won their round robin groups and all three women’s teams are into the semis. All six teams play tomorrow.

The women’s and men’s 35s teams cruised to victory today; the men beat Chile 3/0 and the women beat Turkey 3/0. The 35 women are in the semis; the 35 men play the quarterfinals tomorrow against the #2 seeds.

The women’s 40s and 45s teams also advanced to the final, but more dramatically.

The women’s 40 team beat Netherlands 2/1 and Millie Yablonicky, the #1 player reported that it was a match spanning 8.5 hours! Lizl Kotz won handily at #2; Millie had to overcome a 64 41 deficit, winning the second set in a ‘breaker and taking the third a bit more easily. Deb Higa and Carolina Blouin fell in three tough sets but the team still advances to the semis.

The women’s 45s team came from behind to beat Germany 2/1. Julie Cass lost a tough 3-setter to start the tie; Nancy Hilliard won a tight 2-setter to level the tie and Cass/Tracie Currie won another tough match to clinch the tie and send the final USA women’s team into the semis.

The Men’s 40s team beat Latvia 3/0 today and advanced to the quarterfinals.