Lisbon, Portugal
It’s Tuesday in Lisbon; the Individual World Championships began Saturday and due to byes and a default today was the first day I played a match of any kind. Robin and I played at the Club Internacional de Foot-Ball, and won 61 60 against two nice women, Salete Nery from Brazil and Elize Preuyt from So Africa. Nery has only been playing eight years and Elize works full time as a teacher, but both love the game and are enjoying the world championships. We are now into the quarters.
Susan Wright and Pat Medrado won their first round by the same score. Jenny Cerff and Tracey Thompson dropped the first three games of their match today and then won the next 8, winning 63 62. Both teams are in the quarters and on a semifinal collision course. Tracey won her second round singles match and Diane Barker won her first, both are into the round of 16 now, with Susan Wright and myself.
Clockwise from top left; A Florida D2 College player (lefty); Elna Botha, RSA,Carolyn; Robin; Jenny Cerff
Other American results:
Women: Jenny Klitch in women’s 50s is into the quarters. Fran Chandler fell in a very well played match to Helga Nauck from Germany, the 3rd seed 64 75. Shelly Works lost to Mariana Metola of Argentina in the round of 32. Vicki Buholz won a contentious match with Marina Korepanova of Russia 64 in the third..her reward, a meeting with top-seeded Klartje Van Baarle of Belgium, new to the age division. In doubles, Fran Chandler/Shelly Works advanced; Buholz/Gayle Prejean won and Mary Dailey was playing with Van Baarle.
Men: In the 50s, Dana Gill fell to #7 seed Fernando Granero of Spain 62 76; in the 55s, Willie Alumbaugh upset #2 seeded Simon Arms of Australia in three sets to reach the round of 16; Scott Works fell to Michael Kudinoff of Sweden 76 62, but had beaten the #16 seed a day earlier; in the 60s, defending champion and top seed Mark Vines is into the round of 16 as is Danny Waldman; Waldman faces Glenn Busby of Australia there. In doubles Waldman/Norbert Henn, Busby/Vines and Ross Persons/Joakim Berner are still going.
In mixed, Vicki Buholz/Jerome Vanier (France) are in the round of 16 in the 55s; in the 60s, Jack and Diane Barker take on the first seeds in the round of 16 and #2 seeded Ross Persons/Robin Harris are also in the round of 16.
The order of play isn’t out yet, but given that it’s Wednesday tomorrow and we are in the round of 16, I assume we have the singles round of 16 tomorrow.
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