By Carolyn NIchols
Several USA players stayed or arrived to play the ITF Individual Super Senior World Championships in Umag September 16-23.
In the women’s 60s, Tina Karwasky has been rolling past (or actually, her opponents have been falling her presence…her last 2 matches were retirement wins in less than a set!) her opponents in singles and doubles (with Mary Ginnard). Karwasky is hoping to win her second world singles championship; she won her first in 2010 in Mexico City. Ginnard unfortunately fell ill before her second round singles match and was forced to retire (after collapsing on court), but after the tournament doctor treated her, she recovered to play doubles the next day.
In the 65s, Brenda Carter upset the 2nd seed, Petro Kruger of So Africa on Thursday 64 64, to advance to the semifinals along with three French players.
In the 70s, Charleen Hillebrand is still winning in three divisions, singles, doubles and mixed. She plays Germany’s Heide Orth in the semis. Orth has dropped only two games in three matches en route to the semis. In doubles, with Lurline Fujii of Hawaii, they have reached the semis and face an Australian team there. Last week Fujii played on her first ever Cup team and this week is playing her first ever individual world championship. In mixed, Hillebrand and Bruce Rehn, Australia, are in the semis without having played a match (they advanced to the semis via bye and walkover).
The 75s has been dominated by the Americans, whether or not seeded. Top seed and defending champion Dori deVries will take on Canadian Inge Weber (a USTA member), who is playing well with two new hips. Doubles partners Lyn Tietz, the 8th seed, and Kathy Langer, unseeded, face each other in the other semi. Langer took out the 2nd seed, Bridgette Jung, in three sets in the round of 16. Langer/Tietz play the top seeds, Jung/Van Boemmel of Germany in one semi while DeVries/Carol Wood, the defending champions face off against two Brits, Pearce/Acourt. It could be all American singles and doubles finals in this division.
Margaret Canby, USA is in the semis of the 80s and plays Canadian Muffie Grieve in the semis tomorrow, then will team with Joyce Jones to play Asch/Fontaine of Canada in doubles. Rita Price, 87 and Jane Lutz took out the #3 seeds in the 80 doubles to reach the semis. They play Murray/Burgess of NZL in the other semi.
In men’s 65s, David Nash, USA combined with Keith Bland, GBR to take out the top seeds, Mark Cox/Richard Tutt, 10-5 in the match tiebreak played in lieu of the third set to reach the semis. They play Canada’s Ken Dahl and Australian Michael Pyne tomorrow.
In the men’s 70s, Fred Drilling is into the quarters and faces the #2 seed from Italy, Monaco. It will be a tough match tomorrow!
The men’s 75, three of the four semifinalists are from the USA. Defending champion King Van Nostrand faces Herm Ahlers of the USA in one semi and Lester Sack, the 2012 USA Clay court champion, will play Cech (of Czech Rep.) in the other semi. John Powless/Van Nostrand were to play doubles today but had to retire…Powless hurt himself (or was ill) and retired down 2/0 in his singles match earlier today (in the 80s).
In men’s 80 singles, George McCabe upset the top seed, Henri Cruchet to reach the semis. He plays Spaniard Felipo in the semis. McCabe and Saul Snyder are in the doubles semis too, and play Pewe/Rueger tomorrow. Snyder is in the mixed doubles final with Joyce Jones …the semis was last Sunday and the final probably this Saturday!
That’s the American report to date from Umag. Here’s a link to the draws.
You are a jewel, Carolyn and thanks for taking this jet lag senior back to the most wonderful place on the planet with all the results. It was a compete blast to be in attendance watching all the great tennis and listening to the many languages that came my way. Loved learning about yet another new country. rita