The USA went undefeated on Day 1 of the ITF World Team Championships in Helsinki, but the teams’ routes to victory weren’t all routine and none were routs.

Results click here: https://seniortennisblog.com/2016/02/03/usa-2016-senior-teams-finland/

The Men’s 50, Fred Perry Cup team came a set from defeat against Sweden after Ken White lost his first three sets; he lost his #2 singles in straight sets; Mitch Perkins won at #1 singles and White/Doug Elly dropped the first set of their deciding doubles match before righting the ship and comfortably winning the next 2 sets and the tie.

The men’s 55 match with Russia lasted a long time; Mike Fedderly dropped the 2nd set before pulling out the third. Mike Tammen won 76 62 at #1 singles and Val Wilder/Alex Behar took the doubles point easily.

In the Von Cramm Cup, M60, Chris Bennett at #2 and Danny Waldman at #1 beat their So African opponents handily  but Tom Smith/Paul Wulf dropped the doubles point.

The Maria Bueno team, W50 had a long day but that’s because Shelly Works likes to play long matches…and today her match was a 3 1/2 hour battle against Canada, which she won. Fran Chandler won at #1 and Vesna McKenna/Judy Newman took the doubles point.

The Maureen Connolly Cup team played Spain. Susan Wright won at #2 singles but Diane Barker dropped the first set at #1 singles before winning the final two sets to clinch the tie. Cindy Johnson/Vicki Buholz won the doubles point.

My team, the Alice Marble Cup (W60) won 3/0 vs Sweden. I won 62 61 at #2 singles; Tina won 60 62 at #1 singles and Sherri Bronson/Wendy McColskey won an entertaining doubles match against former US player Marianne Robertson and her partner 64 in the third. The points were long and well played.