Draws are here. (You still need a USTA membership to view…USTA please fix this!)

I left Alabama super early yesterday (and made it back, as scheduled, avoiding Charlotte altogether). Thank goodness I had a backup morning flight! Here are some results from Friday’s matches, with scores taken from the tournament website.

Susan Wright beat Erin Boynton 76 (6), 61, staving off two set points, to win the 65 singles. Susan said she played well and it was a bit less windy than it had been…it’s gold ball number 131 more or less (hard to keep track of all those when you have so many!). Terri Thyssen won the 3/4 playoff and the bronze ball 61 60 over Tracey Thompson. The 5/6 playoff is Saturday between Ann Young (who beat Lori Robertson) and Kim Dean.

In the 75s, Gwenda Ward beat Toni Novack in a marathon first set (around 90 minutes) 76 (13) and had to overcome multiple set points against her in the process; then, like Susan won the second set 60 (corrected…not 61) in a two-hour match. Judy Dixon beat Brenda Carter in straight sets but apparently strained a muscle in the process, and had to pull out of the singles final today. It was Gwenda’s first singles gold ball (though she has some in doubles and a world doubles championship). Gwenda keeps getting stronger and being a tall lefty does not hurt things!

Liane Bryson ran a lot so Judy didn’t have to in their 64 61 win over Ward/Susie Peiffer to win the doubles gold. Janet Rice/Kristen Padberg won the bronze 62 62 over Carter/Kathy Bennett.

Roz King (the queen of the 85s) won the singles 62 62 over Ingrid Rehwinkel and combined with Dorothy Wasser to win the 85s round robin. There is still a match or two to be played so the 2nd and 3rd place may not be decided yet. Dorothy Wasser took the bronze by default over Sheila Palmer.

Kathy Settles/Anne Frautschi won the 55 doubles gold, not dropping a set in four matches; Sue Kaleel/Kristen Charlton finished second and Alice Stubbs/Kelly Phillips won the bronze.