The USA had five Cup teams (out of 10) playing for gold medals today in Turkey and three other in three/four (bronze medal) playoff matches.

The USA won the Mulloy (M80),  Queens (W75) and Godfree (W65)Cups and the playoff for third in the Britannia Cup (men’s 65), but fell in the deciding doubles match in the Von Cramm (men’s 60) and Alice Marble (women’s 60) Cup finals. The USA lost the bronze medal match in the Althea Gibson (women’s 70) and Doris Hart (women’s 80) cups.

The first and last Cups to be decided featured USA teams. The first Cup of the day to finish was the Gardnar Mulloy Cup (Men’s 80). The Super Duper USA team easily swept the singles from Germany and finished with a win in doubles. John Powless (#2) and King Van Nostrand won the singles and George McCabe/Neil Hurlbut took the doubles point. Van Nostrand beat German #1 Herbert Althaus 61 61 and often surprised the German with his accurate shots.

The last Cup match of the day was the most exciting, the Von Cramm Cup, USA vs France. Tony Dawson pulled a proverbial rabbit out of the hat to win at #2 singles, fending off match points and rallying from a break down in the final sets to win the match in three sets. Geoff Cykman played a good match but lost at #1 singles. Dawson/Tom Smith played the doubles and won the first set, were up in the second and had points to go up a double break, but lost the set, went up 31 in the third, had break points, and finally fell 75 in the third. As one player commented, they were unlucky to lose the doubles, but lucky to win the #2 singles. The points were amazing and at the end it was very dark (the lights aren’t ITF standard at Ali Bey) and the French team’s lobs were deadly under the low, dim lights.

The USA was seeded #1 in the Queens Cup (women’s 75) as well, but had to fight hard to beat a determined German team. Roz King beat Annetraut Bauwens in three sets63 67 62. Dori deVries lost the first set 76 to Nanda Fischer at #1 singles and barely held on to win the second and force a deciding set. However, one game into the third set Nanda retired to give the match and the Cup to the USA. Burnett Herrick/Ria Graham won the doubles point.

The Kitty Godfree Cup (women’s 65) team beat France to win the Godfree Cup for the USA for the first time in many years. Brenda Carter edged Martine Monlibert 61 in the third to win at #2 singles and Brenda ran hard in that match, Martine is a very good player. Next up was Martha Downing vs Gail Benedetti. Benedetti hadn’t lost a singles match in ITF Seniors play in five years prior to today. Downing, who hadn’t played Benedetti ever, said before the match that she was looking forward to the match. Downing won the close first set 64, lost the second 62, changed tactics slightly for the third and won it 61, by constantly moving forward, and making few unforced errors.

The Britannia Cup team won 2/1 over France, easily winning at #2 singles (Neely) and doubles (Neely/Cheney); Brian Cheney lost a close three setter at #1 singles.

The USA Doris Hart Cup fell to France in the 3/4 playoff. Again Jane Lutz won at #2 singles, though in a match tiebreak this time, 10-8; Margaret Canby played a much better match at #1 singles, losing in a match tiebreak to Ann Fotheringham, to whom she lost earlier in the week 60 60; this time however, the Aussies put Ann and Fisher in for the deciding doubles match and the Aussies prevailed over the Americans.

The USA Gibson Cup team also split its singles with Suella Steel losing to Jackie Boothman before Cathie Anderson leveled the match with win over Frances Maclennan at #1. Anderson/Steel though lost the doubles point and the USA finished fourth.

The Marble Cup team fell to the Brits 2/1. Sherri Bronson lost at #2 singles to Sally Freeman. Sally played very well and what amazed me was that she served holding not one, not two but three balls in her hand! She dropshotted beautifully and was very steady; Tina Karwasky, who had been quite ill the day before and was still under the weather today, went down 52 to Frances Candy at #1 singles, before rallying to win the next five games and the set; She won the second set 62. That set the stage for the doubles, which was quite close, but the Brits won 64 in the third. It was Candy’s first time on a winning Cup team and she was really excited and happy about that.

The USA men’s 75s, Bitsy Grant Cup, won today 2/1 to finish 7th.

Other winners:

Men’s 65, Britannia: Spain

Men’s 70: Crawford Cup: France

Men’s 75, Bitsy Grant Cup; Australia

Women’s 70s: Germany

Women’s 80: Canada