The USA Men’s 55, Austria Cup team, is into the semis in Ashburton. They play Spain, who they beat in the QF last year and I like their chances this year.  Today they beat Austria 3/0 behind fine singles play by Ross Persons and Fred Robinson.

The USA Women’s 50 team plays Gr Britain tomorrow. We have ANOTHER day off (5 days…2 matches…then two tough matches on the weekend). We play Australia, who upset France, on Saturday and Great Britain on Sunday. GBR plays Australia tomorrow.

In Timaru, the women’s 40s had the day off and play the semis tomorrow. The men’s 40s also had the day off and play the semis tomorrow. The women’s 35s played #1 seeded GBR and lost 2/1. Trish Riddell lost at #2 singles, against an opponent who would not miss; Patricia Zerdan won in three sets at #1 against Karen Cross…terrific, well played match; and Trish and Mary Beth lost the doubles, the Brits were just too good in the doubles. We drove to Timaru and watched, arrived in time to see Patricia win the 2nd set and the third and to see the deciding doubles point. Timaru was nice, on the water, there’s a beach, there is a shopping area, the hotel, the appropriately named Panorama, looks over the bay…much bigger than Ashburton. The drive was nice, lots of sheep and cattle, flat, but mountains in the background.

The dinner was tonight for the players, a nice buffet followed by dancing and music.