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Americans Win 18 of the 25 Titles Contested at the 32nd ITF Senior World Championships in San Diego

By Carolyn Nichols

Home court advantage was more evident in the individual world championships last week than it has been in the team championships the week before (though the USA medaled in eight of the ten cups contested). Americans took away seven singles, eight doubles and three mixed doubles titles in San Diego, and had many bronze and silver medalists too!

Singles Medalists:

Kelly Wilson, playing in her first senior world championships, and seeded 7^th, reached the final of the 35 singles. She had a long, physical battle in the semis over Ana Salas-Lozano (64 67 76 (5). Salas-Lozano was the defending world champion in this division. In the final she took on another Spaniard, Noela Perez Penate, and fell 64 63 in another physical match (long rallies, long games). Perez-Penate beat #2 seeded Patricia Zerdan, USA, by the identical score in the semis.

Jennifer Dawson, from nearby Carlsbad, CA, also playing in her first individual world championship, and seeded a lowly 8^th, beat six-time world champion Klaarjte Van Baarle of Belgium 634 63 in the final after beating the 2^nd seed, Lesley O’Halloran of Ireland in the semis 61 62. Her only hiccup came in the first round where she took out Manola Murillo of Chile (formerly Manola Colter; she lives in the USA) in three sets. Dawson outrallied Van Baarle in the final, and ran beautifully. Van Baarle commented that “Dawson must train for hours each day, and that Dawson deserved the win, because she played very well.”

In the 50s, it was an all-American final, between Ros Fairbank Nideffer, the 3rd seed, and Fran Chandler, the 4^th seed. Nideffer was the more aggressive player, rallying with Chandler till an opportunity to go forward arrived, then pressuring Chandler’s backhand to come up with a pass. Nideffer won 63 75. Tracy Houk, USA took out the top seed in a four hour match in the round of 16.

Diane (formerly Fishburne) Barker dominated the 55s, losing only 9 games in five matches to win her 5^th world singles title. She beat Carolyn Nichols, USA 63 61 in the semis and #2 seeded Patricia Medrado, a multiple world singles champion, in the final. Susan Wright, USA lost a close two-setter to Medrado in the other semi.

Jeff Tarango held on to his temper and patience in a grueling final in the 40s. He beat Marcus Hilpert of the Netherlands 63 36 75 to win his first senior world championship. Tarango led 52 in the final set before Hilpert started blasting the balls and landing them in. Tarango kept the ball deep at the end causing Hilpert to miss enough to capture the final two games.

Jeff Greenwald, seeded 5^th, won his second world title 11 years after winning his first one, beating fellow American, Carl Clark (who was unseeded) in the final by a deceptively decisive 61 64 score. Clark took out Martin Barba, USA in three sets, and beat 2011 Gold Slam champion Mario Tabares 75 61 early in the tournament.

Val Wilder won his 4^th individual title in San Diego, and it was definitely the closest match he ever had in winning a world title. He beat his doubles partner, Mike Fedderly, USA 76 in the third. Fedderly had two match points on Wilder’s serve at 5-6 and Wilder won them both with his aggressive, forward play. The entire match was punch (Wilder) and counterpunch (Fedderly) and was very long, partly due to their leisurely pace between points. Wilder had to go three sets in the semis too, to beat Mike Tammen, USA.

Mark Vines dominated the men’s 55 division, winning the final 62 61 and dropping only eight games in winning seven matches, including a 60 60 win in the semis.

Doubles Medalists:

Cammy MacGregor/Debbie Spence Nasim won the 35 doubles over Rhona Kaczmarczyk/Molly Carter, USA 61 61.

Debbie Higa and Jami Jones won an all-American final over the sister in pink pair of Jennifer Lyons/Julie Shapiro. The final was a great match, the rallies were long and intense under the lights on court 8. The final score was 64 76. The same teams played the final of the Babolat only a few weeks ago with the Lyons/Shapiro pairing coming out on top that time. Both teams were unseeded. Higa/Jones had an even closer match in the semis, beating another San Diego team, Jennifer Rens-Keller/Wendy Carragher; they rallied from 2-5 down in the final set to win it 76.

Erika Smith/Alissa Finerman, seeded #1, upheld their seeding, beating the #2 seeded Gretchen Magers/Nideffer 64 62 in the final. Erika brings the power and Alissa the touch and speed; the combination creates a great doubles team, and Magers/Nideffer had no answers to their play on Saturday.

The American medalists in the 50 doubles were Tracy Houk/Judy Newman. They reached the semis before they lost to eventual winners Leanne Swaysland/Ros Balodis of Australia.

Wright/Kathy May Fritz dominated the women’s 55 doubles, beating 2010 finalists, Mary Ginnard/Tina Karwasky 61 61 in the final. Ginnard/Karwasky had to go to a match tiebreak in the semis to overcome Joanne Russell and her sister Lynn Taylor. Ann Stanley, USA, teamed with Lynn Mortimer, Australia to reach the semis before losing to Wright/Fritz.

Rick Leach/Mickey Maule, USA, seeded #2, won the men’s 40 doubles in a quality match against the top seeds, Ellis Ferreira/Roger/Mills, USA 61 57 75. James Dao/Derek Brooks, USA were bronze medalists.

In the men’s 45s, all eight medalists were from the USA. Bruce Man Son Hing/John Letts, seeded 8, beat Brian Cory/Art Hernadez, the 7^th seeds 62 64 in the final, a reverse of the result at the 45 nationals. Letts/Man Son Hing beat Steve Willoughby/Ed Wagner 76 60 in one semi. Cory/Hernandez won matches that came down to the wire in the quarters and semis (76 67 75 in the semis over Oren Motevassel/Vincent Horcasitas).

Wilder one of only three US players to win two gold medals at the individual world championships (the others were Nasim and  Leach). He teamed with Fedderly to win the 50 doubles over the US pairing of Ross Hessler/Jon Tyrell 36 75 63. This was played after their long singles match and as a result was the final match of the tournament. Ken White, USA/Paul Smith, NZ and Tammen/Eric Styrmoe were the bronze medalists.

The final of the 55 men’s doubles was played before a large and vociferous crowd at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. Bill Kellogg/Holladay from the LJBTC, unseeded, took on Danny Waldman/Ross Persons, USA, the #7 seeds and defending world 50 champions. The match went three sets. Waldman/Persons took a quick 3/0 lead in the third, Kellogg/Holladay responded by winning the next four games, but Waldman stepped it up a level and the 7^th seeds won 64 in the third.

Mixed doubles was held for the first time at a senior world championships in San Diego. In mixed, all matches in which the teams split sets were decided by a 10 point match tiebreaker. USA Medalists in mixed:

Amy Alcini USA/Joseph Lizardo, PHI reached the final of the 35 mixed (despite being eligible for the 40s) where they lost to Maria Bergenheim, EST/Thassilo Haun, GER.

The 40 mixed saw Leach/Tracie Currie, USA rally from a deep hole in the match tiebreak to beat Magers/Tarango 61 46 (7)

Nasim/Steve Dawson won the 45 mixed over Leslie O’Halloran, IRE/Bart Theelen, NED 26 64 (8). Dawson’s wife Jennifer, won the 45 singles. Nasim/Dawson beat Lyons/Glen Barton, USA, 75 63 in the semis.

American bronze medalists in the 50 mixed were Michael Mehmedbasich (Susan Wright’s brother)/Newman and Tammen/Tracey Thompson.

The 55 mixed champions are Robin Harris/Angel Lopez, who beat  Russell/Persons in the final 63 64. Persons/Russell edged Carolyn Lane/Rob Millsop, USA, in the semis 0-6 64 (4), while Harris/Lopez beat John/Terry Holladay, USA in the other semi.

 

 

32nd ITF Championships End Successful Run in San Diego

AMERICAN VAL WILDER WINS TWO MEN’S 50 TITLES AT INTERNATIONAL
TENNIS FEDERATION SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tournament Director Bill Kellogg Proclaims Two-week International Event a Total Success

La Jolla, Calif. – (February 19, 2012) – Val Wilder of Fort Worth, Texas capped off an incredible week at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club as he won both the singles and doubles titles in the Men’s 50 division at the 2012 International Tennis Federation Seniors World Individual Championships.

The fourth-seeded Wilder faced third-seeded Mike Fedderly of Palm Desert, Calif. in the Men’s 50 singles final on Sunday morning on Court No. 1.

After splitting the first two sets, Wilder served to stay in the match at 5-6 and would fight off two match points before holding serve. He then went on to win the championships with a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory.

Later in the afternoon, Wilder teamed with Fedderly to win the Men’s 50 doubles championship as they defeated Ross Hessler of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Jon Tyrell of Sierra Madre, Calif., 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

“There is something about this place…every time I come here, my game always rises to another level. I love playing here…it’s like coming home.” Wilder said. “Every match I felt like I was getting better and better, stronger and stronger. I’m still shocked I was able to win two world titles. That’s pretty amazing.”

Last week, Wilder earned a silver medal in the ITF Seniors World Team Championships as he helped lead his team to the final of the Fred Perry Cup (Men’s 50) competition where they fell to France 2-1. He said winning the two gold medals in the individual competition this week “definitely” takes the sting out of the previous week’s loss.

In other tournament action, second-seeded Jeff Tarango of Manhattan Beach, Calif. scored a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Marcus Hilpert of the Netherlands to win the singles title in the Men’s 40 division.

As the 2012 ITF Senior World Championships came to a close, Bill Kellogg, Tournament Director and President of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, said the event was an example of the great things that can happen when the community-oriented people of San Diego work together.

“This prestigious international tennis event, which we began planning for over a year ago, certainly would not have been possible without the community effort and long hours that were put in. San Diego should be very proud for the way everyone came together and made this tournament a complete success,” Kellogg said.

“I would like to thank the San Diego Sports Commission, including Kristen Auten, Lexie Sarkisian and Whitney Goodman, and each of our tournament sites and their staff — the Balboa Tennis Club, Barnes Tennis Center, La Costa Resort & Spa, Morgan Run Club & Resort, San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club, La Jolla Tennis Club and La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club,” Kellogg added.

“We also owe a great deal of gratitude to our valued sponsors, Babolat, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch – The Hegardt Group, CH Court Tech, Tennis Warehouse and Vitamin Water.”

For the final draws and results for the 2012 ITF Seniors World Individual Championships, go to: www.itftennis.com/seniors
Recently designated one of the Top 50 Tennis Resorts in the world by Tennis Resorts Online, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club’s reputation as a top tennis destination started in 1942 when it attracted its first major tournament, the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship. The club will be hosting the 123rd edition of The Pacific Coast Men’s’ Doubles Championships in March 2012, and the USTA National Hard Court Championships for Women’s 50-90 age groups in May 2012.

For more information on Tennis Events at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club please visit www.LJBTC.com. For information on the ITF Senior World Championships please visit www.ITFSanDiego.com.

About the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Inc. – Celebrating its 75-year anniversary in 2010, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated company dedicated to the operation of a 14-acre beachside resort. The resort includes three properties, including the exclusive La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, the 128-room La Jolla Shores Hotel and the historic Marine Room restaurant. Resort amenities include 14 championship tennis courts, a nine-hole Par-3 golf course, two swimming pools, two additional oceanfront restaurants and cocktail lounges, and one of Southern California’s only private beaches. For more information visit www.LJBTC.com.

###

ITF Seniors World Individual Championships
San Diego, Calif.
Surface: Hard Court
At La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club

2012 Champions

Men’s 35 Singles
Roberto Menendez, Spain

Men’s 35 Doubles
Greg Evans and Michael Evans, Australia

Women’s 35 Singles
Noelia Perez-Penate, Spain

Women’s 35 Doubles
Cammy Macgregor and Debbie Spence-Nasim, United States

Mixed 35 Doubles
Maria Bergenheim, Estonia, and Thassilo Haun, Germany

Men’s 40 Singles
Jeff Tarango, United States

Men’s 40 Doubles
Rick Leach and Mickey Maule, United States

Women’s 40 Singles
Jurate Hardy, Australia

Women’s 40 Doubles
Deborah Higa and Jami Jones, United States

Mixed 40 Doubles
Tracie Currie and Rick Leach, United States

Men’s 45 Singles
Jeff Greenwald, United States

Men’s 45 Doubles
John Letts and Bruce Man-Son-Hing , United States

Women’s 45 Singles
Jennifer Dawson, United States

Women’s 45 Doubles
Alissa Finerman and Erika Smith, United States

Mixed 45 Doubles
Debbie Spence-Nasim and Steve Dawson, United States

Men’s 50 Singles
Val Wilder, United States

Men’s 50 Doubles
Mike Fedderly and Val Wilder, United States

Women’s 50 Singles
Rosalyn Nideffer, United States

Women’s 50 Doubles
Ros Balodis and Leanne Swaysland, Australia

Mixed 50 Doubles
Brenda Foster, Australia, and Chris Hearn, Great Britain

Men’s 55 Singles
Mark Vines, United States

Men’s 55 Doubles
Ross Persons and Daniel Waldman, United States

Women’s 55 Singles
Diane Barker, United States

Women’s 55 Doubles
Kathy May Fritz and Susan Wright, United States

Mixed 55 Doubles
Robin Harris and Angel Lopez, United States

Final Results From 32nd ITF World Championships

Please find below the final results from the 2012 ITF Seniors World Individual Championships in San Diego, USA. 739 players from 46 countries competed in 5 age categories from 35-and-over to 55-and-over. Mixed Doubles events were included for the first time in the championships history. For further information, visit the ITF Seniors website: www.itftennis.com/seniors.

ITF SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, SAN DIEGO, USA

FINAL RESULTS

Women’s 35 Singles

Noelia Perez-Penate (ESP) d. Kelly Pace-Wilson (USA) 64 63

Women’s 35 Doubles

Cammy Macgregor/Debbie Spence-Nasim (USA) d. Molly T. Carter/Rhona Kaczmarcyk (USA) 61 61

Women’s 40 Singles

Jurate Hardy (AUS) d. Isabelle Tyrrell (GBR) 60 62

Women’s 40 Doubles

Deborah Y. Higa/Jami Jones (USA) d. Jennifer Lyons/Julie Shapiro (USA) 63 76(1)

Women’s 45 Singles

Jennifer Dawson (USA) d. Klaartje Van Baarle (BEL) 64 63

Women’s 45 Doubles

Alissa Finerman/Erika Smith (USA) d. Gretchen Magers/Rosalyn Nideffer (USA) 64 62

Women’s 50 Singles

Rosalyn Nideffer (USA) d. Fran Chandler (USA) 63 75

Women’s 50 Doubles

Ros Balodis/Leanne Swaysland (AUS) d. Brenda Foster (AUS) /Christine French (GBR) 46 75 60

Women’s 55 Singles

Diane Barker (USA) d. Patricia Medrado (BRA) 63 61

Women’s 55 Doubles

Kathy May Fritz/Susan Wright (USA) d. Mary Ginnard/Tina Karwasky (USA) 61 61

Men’s 35 Singles

Roberto Menendez Ferre (ESP) d. Benjamin Budziak (POL) 63 75

Men’s 35 Doubles

Greg Evans/Michael R. Evans (AUS) d. Tapio Nurminen/Ilkka Riikonen (FIN) 46 64 6-3

Men’s 40 Singles

Jeff Tarango (USA) d. Marcus Hilpert (NED) 63 36 75

Men’s 40 Doubles

Rick Leach/Mickey Maule (USA) d. Ellis Ferreira/Roger Mills (USA) 61 57 75

Men’s 45 Singles

Jeff Greenwald (USA) d. Carl Clark (USA) 61 64

Men’s 45 Doubles

John Letts/Bruce Man-Son-Hing (USA) d. Brian Cory/Arthur Hernandez (USA) 62 64

Men’s 50 Singles

Val Wilder (USA) d. Mike Fedderly (USA) 46 63 76(3)

Men’s 50 Doubles

Mike Fedderly/Val Wilder (USA) d. Ross Hessler/Jon S. Tyrell (USA) 36 75 63

Men’s 55 Singles

Mark Vines (USA) d. Paul French (GBR) 61 62

Men’s 55 Doubles

Ross Persons/Daniel Waldman (USA) d. John Holladay/William J. Kellogg (USA) 62 26 64
35 Mixed Doubles

Maria Bergenheim (EST)/Thassilo Haun (GER) d. Amy Alcini (USA)/Joseph Lizardo (PHI) 64 64

40 Mixed Doubles

Tracie Currie/Rick Leach (USA) d. Gretchen Magers/Jeff Tarango (USA) 61 46 10-7

45 Mixed Doubles

Debbie Spence-Nasim/Steve Dawson (USA) d. Lesley O’Halloran (IRL)/Bart Theelen (NED) 26 64 10-8

50 Mixed Doubles

Brenda Foster (AUS)/Chris Hearn(GBR) d. Felicity Oxnevad/Peter Hampton (NZL) 64 64

55 Mixed Doubles

Robin Harris/Angel Lopez (USA) d. Joanne Russell/Ross Persons (USA) 63 64

SENIORS DEPARTMENT
Development Assistant – Juniors & Seniors
International Tennis Federation
Bank Lane, Roehampton, London, SW15 5XZ
t: +44 20 8878 6464 | fax: +44 20 8392 4735
www.itftennis.com/juniors | www.itftennis.com/seniors
www.juniortennisschool.com/

Barker Advances to Final in 55 Women’s Singles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

J. Fred Sidhu Lindsey Suda, Marketing Coordinator

(619) 507-6943 (c) La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club Inc.

(619) 282-5706 (o) (858) 551-4639

fredsidhu@yahoo.com LSuda@ljbtc.com

TOP-SEEDED DIANE BARKER WINS ALL-AMERICAN SEMIFINAL AT INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Barker Eliminates Fourth-seeded Carolyn Nichols to Advance to Women’s 55 Singles Final

La Jolla, Calif. – (February 17, 2012) – In a semifinal singles match featuring two Americans, top-seeded Diane Barker of Daniel Island, S.C. defeated fourth-seeded Carolyn Nichols of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., 6-3, 6-1, to advance to the finals of the Women’s 55 division at the 2012 International Tennis Federation Seniors World Individual Championships.

It was just last week when Nichols and Barker were teammates as they represented the United States in the ITF Seniors World Team Championships and helped lead the U.S. to the Maureen Connolly Cup (Women’s 55) title at San Diego’s Balboa Tennis Club.

On a bright, sunny Friday morning at the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club, they faced each other in the singles semifinals. Barker got off to a slow start as she lost the first seven points of the match as Nichols took an early 2-0 lead in the first set.

Barker recovered and eventually broke Nichols to get back on serve. Barker began moving Nichols around the court during rallies and when Barker had Nichols out of position, she would either go for an outright winner or come to the net to put the ball away.

With Nichols serving at 3-4, Barker scored a critical break when she hit a down the line winner on break point to take a 5-3 lead. In the following game, Barker went on to serve out the first set.

Nichols served to open the second set and on break point against her serve, she tried a drop shot, but Barker came up with a forehand winner to take a 1-0. As Barker gained momentum in the match, the top seed increased her lead to 4-0 before Nichols held serve to make the score 4-1.

At 5-1 in the second set, Nichols served to stay in the match, but on match point, Barker ended the match with a forehand winner. Barker advances to the Women’s 55 singles final, where she will meet second-seeded Patricia Medrado of Brazil, a former touring tennis professional.

“It’s always a physical match with Carolyn. She does not give up and she will fight and run down one more ball. You’ve got to do a lot of running. ” Barker said after her semifinal victory. “It’s always a tough match playing her, but I’m glad it’s over and I’m glad to be in the finals.”

In other action on Friday, seventh-seeded Kelly Pace-Wilson of Cameron Park, Calif. ousted top-seeded Ana Salas-Lozano of Spain, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), to advance to the finals of the Women’s 35 division.

In a quarterfinal match in the Men’s 50 division, third-seeded Mike Fedderly of Palm Desert, Calif., edged Peter Markes of Austin, Texas, 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-3.

Tournament officials announced that all finals for each age division (35s, 40s, 45s, 50s and 55s) will be played on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19 at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. Play is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. (PT).

Tournament admission to watch the matches is free and open to the public. On-site parking is available at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club for a nominal fee.

For the most current draws and results for the 2012 ITF Seniors World Individual Championships, go to:www.itftennis.com/seniors

Recently designated one of the Top 50 Tennis Resorts in the world by Tennis Resorts Online, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club’s reputation as a top tennis destination started in 1942 when it attracted its first major tournament, the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship. The club will be hosting the 123^rd edition of The Pacific Coast Men’s’ Doubles Championships in March 2012, and the USTA National Hard Court Championships for Women’s 50-90 age groups in May 2012.

For more information on Tennis Events at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club please visit www.LJBTC.com. For information on the ITF Senior World Championships please visit www.ITFSanDiego.com.

About the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Inc. – Celebrating its 75-year anniversary in 2010, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated company dedicated to the operation of a 14-acre beachside resort. The resort includes three properties, including the exclusive La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, the 128-room La Jolla Shores Hotel and the historic Marine Room restaurant. Resort amenities include 14 championship tennis courts, a nine-hole Par-3 golf course, two swimming pools, two additional oceanfront restaurants and cocktail lounges, and one of Southern California’s only private beaches. For more information visit www.LJBTC.com.

Thursday, Friday Update: Into the Semis (Thursday); Done on Friday (lost)

Thursday was a very long day on the court for me…Susan Wright and I were both scheduled for 10, so planned an 8:15 warm up. I called the club at 7am (since it rained hard on Wednesday night, I wanted to make sure the courts were dry). The woman answering the phone said the courts looked playable…so we arrived about 8:15 and the courts were….wet. However, a couple were ok for warming up and we did successfully warm up….and then waited for a court. Diane Barker played Sherri Bronson and was quick…done by 10…then another quick match (Ros Balodis-Lisel Prechtel-Koot went on, then Frances Candy, the British #1 (whom I seem to play at every World Championship at which we are both present and in the same age division), took the court about 11am. And we monopolized it….finishing about four hours later. It was a grinding match, 63 36 62. Frances started slowly, overcame a slew of set points at 3-5 down before I finally won the game on a missed volley, then played an aggressive, solid second set. The third set was long…lots of high balls punctuated with forays to the net and later on, drop shots. Again, Frances held off about half a dozen match points and even earned a couple of game points in the last game before finally netting a ball. Then I had doubles…then Diane at 9am! Meanwhile, Susan Wright advanced over Pat Wire and Patricia Medrado held off the always tough Tina Karwasky 64 61Again, warm up with Susan at 8…then we both lost, Susan in a tough match to Medrado 64 63 and me to Barker 63 61. However, considering that Diane had only lost 4 games in San Diego in 7 matches, winning 4 in one match was a moral victory of sorts. She played very consistently and yet more aggressively than I did.

While I was playing Frances,  Tracy Houk, USA, fell to Chris French in 3 sets, winning the first before fading; and Fran Chandler held off a match point or 2 in a tough match with Leona Matzenauer, also from the USA, winning 36 76 (5) 63. Leona is a great ball striker, reminiscent of Helena Mandlikova I think. Roz Nideffer held off Judy Newman to complete the semis in the women’s 50s (with Balodis being the 4th to the party). Today Fran beat Chris French 63 64 and in the battle of the “Ros”, Nideffer held off Balodis, with her penetrating backhands, and overcame the jitters on her serve, winning 63 64.

And then there was doubles. Robin Harris and I played Karwasky/Mary Ginnard first in twilight, then under the less than optimally illuminating lights at the club…they won 61 63…every game was a battle, but they just played better than we did. It was their second match of the day and they played much better than they had earlier…or so we thought! They played Joanne Russell and her sister today and won in a match tiebreak to reach the final. Interestingly, the other half of the draw is only out to the semis…Lyn Mortimer/Ann Stanley face Susan Wright/Kathy May Fritz.

In the 50s, Tracy Houk and Judy Newman took out the #4 seeds, Erin Boynton/Terry Holladay in a match tiebreak…and won again today…now they face Balodis/Leanne Swaysland. Chris French/Brenda Foster, unseeded, took out the 3rd seeds, Carolyn Lane/Tracey Thompson today and face the top seeds, Ingrid-Gutmann-Resch and Prechtel. Both the semis and final are scheduled for tomorrow.

Today, the men’s 45 and women’s 40s moved over from Morgan Run to San Diego T & R Club. Jurate Hardy advanced easily to the final and Isabelle Tyrell was too steady for Debbie Higa, winning 62 62. In doubles, Jami Jones/Higa held off their friends Jenny Rens Keller and Wendy Carragher in a marathon, 76 in the third, rallying from 25 down to win the breaker. They play the winners of a Russian pair and  Jennifer Lyons/Julie Shapiro (the sisters in pink) in the final.

Jeff Greenwald, USA advanced to the men’s 45 final. Brian Cory and Art Hernandez edged the #1 seeds out of the 45 doubles, winning the breaker in the third 75 (only one point won against serve in that tiebreaker!). He plays Carl Clark, also from the USA, in the final. Clark took out Mario Tabares and Martin Barba en route to the final.

Jennifer Dawson, USA, beat Leslie O’Halloran from Ireland, the #2 seed, 62 61 in the semis and now takes on top-seeded Klarjte Van Baarle, Belgium for the 45 title. Jennifer’s husband Steve is in the semis of the 45 mixed with Debbie Spence Nasim and they take on Jennifer Lyons/Glen Barton, who upset the top seeds tonight. Debbie is in the 35 doubles final too, with Cammy MacGregor.

Kelly Wilson, USA, is in the 35s final; In the mixed 40s, it’s an all American affair with Gretchen Magers/Jeff Tarango facing Tracie Currie/Rick Leach. Tarango is also in the men’s 40 singles semis; Leach is in the men’s 40 doubles final with Mickey Maule (they take on Ellis Ferreira/Roger Mills in the final, an all American final);

The 8 players remaining in the men’s 45 doubles are American;

The men’s 50s have 3 USA players: Val Wilder, Mike Fedderly and Mike Tammen (who is in the mixed still with Tracey Thompson).

Mark Vines is the sole American though in the 55 singles; playing in the 55s for the first time, he’s cruised to the semis.

Everyone left in the men’s 55 doubles is from the USA…the USA in other words is doing really well in doubles and well in singles.

Here’s the list of times for tomorrow’s matches; all matches are at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club tomorrow and Sunday: http://itfseniors.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=A12C2DB8-FF61-492E-85E2-17A07434345E 

 

      

USA Players Doing Well in San Diego!

Women’s 50s & 55s:

Tracy Houk ousted the #1 seed, Ingrid Gutmann-Resch in a very long match in the 50s, winning 67 64 62. Tracy was up 64 in the first set TB before losing it. The match had been on court over 3 hours when there was a rain delay, with Tracy up 3-0 in the third. Tracy wisely used the time eating and getting a massage/stretch. She returned to the court and finished out the set. She just out maneuvered and outlasted her Austrian opponent. Tracy has won world titles in the 35s and is trying to do it again in the 50s.

Judy Newman ousted Mariana Hollman 75 ret. inj (hamstring), but the one set was very long, to reach the quarters in her first ever world championships.

In the 55s, Diane Barker, Susan Wright, Sherri Bronson, Tina Karwasky and I all advanced. Diane plays Sherri in the semis; Susan takes on the #4 Brit,  Patricia Wire; I play Frances Candy, the #1 British player, and Tina takes on #2 seeded Patricia Medrado. Medrado took out Pat Purcell in the round of 16 1,2; Purcell said she came in on some very good shots only to see the ball go past her; Wright beat Mary Ginnard, and commented that Ginnard was a very smart player; and Wire beat Nancy Abler-Sanchez. I beat the #3 French player, Brigitte Cadoret, a very nice lady with a huge forehand and nice drop shot, 60 60.

In doubles, Robin and I were up 2/0 against Elena Polyakova/Rosemarie Davis when Robin hit a ball at Polyakova, she volleyed it but it jammed her, as she moved out of the way, she lost her balance, fell and hurt her left wrist and they had to retire. We play tomorrow afternoon, late against the winner of Jackie Heston/Dee Williams-Horne and Tina Karwasky/Mary Ginnard. I play Frances Candy from GBR in the morning, and hope for good weather!

Debbie Higa won her 40s singles match today to advance to the semis against the #2 seed, Isabelle Tyrell. The semis aren’t scheduled for tomorrow in the 40s. Jennifer Dawson also advanced in singles as did Ros Fairbanks Nideffer in the 50s. Bill Kellogg fell in singles but is still in the doubles in the 55s with John Holladay. Tracey Thompson is cruising, with Carolyn Lane of Arizona, so far in the 50 doubles.

Ruth Young and Sue Sprague upset the #2 seeds in the 55 doubles, Muriel Cherry and Sabine Schmitz 61 57 1/0 (match TB).

The seeding is interesting in the doubles, as it’s mainly done by singles rankings this year. Next year there will be an entire year of doubles data which will make the seedings more accurate.

All for now…there are lots more US players rolling in the men’s divisions, you can check them out at this link: http://itfseniors.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=A12C2DB8-FF61-492E-85E2-17A07434345E&d=20120215

 

 

 

From Fred Sidhu:

CARLSBAD’S JENNIFER DAWSON MOVES INTO QUARTERFINALS AT INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Eighth-seeded American Routs unseeded Katja Groeniger of Germany in Third Round of Women’s 45s

La Jolla, Calif. – (February 15, 2012) – There are times when you’re on the tennis court and everything feels just right and you can do little wrong.

It was one of those days for eighth-seeded Jennifer Dawson of Carlsbad, Calif. as she easily defeated Germany’s Katja Groeniger, 6-0, 6-1, in the third round to advance to the quarterfinals of Women’s 45 division of the 2012 International Tennis Federation Seniors Individual Championships at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

On a mostly cloudy and blustery day with temperatures in the mid-50s, Dawson opened the match by holding serve and breaking Groeniger for a 2-0 lead.

Dawson, a former collegiate player at the University of San Diego, simply had too much depth and pace on her groundstrokes as she began to dominate the German and went on to build a 5-0 advantage. In the next game, Dawson easily held serve to close out the set, which took a little over 20 minutes.

Groeniger tried to rally with Dawson from the baseline, but was outmatched and when she tried to come to the net, Dawson responded with well-placed passing shots.

Dawson, who won the United States Tennis Association National 40s Hard Court Championships last December at the LJB&TC, committed very few errors and was solid from the baseline as she broke serve twice in the first three games of the second set and established a 3-0 lead.

Groeniger did manage to acquire a break point against Dawson’s serve in the next game and when Dawson’s shot sailed past the baseline, Groeniger raised her arms over her head to celebrate as she won her first game of the match.

The German served at 1-3 as she attempted to make a comeback, but on break point against her serve, Groeniger hit a drop shot that Dawson tracked down and returned for a winner to secure the game and take a 4-1 lead.

Dawson won the next game when she came in on a short ball on game point and hit a winner off her forehand approach to increase her lead to 5-1. Groeniger served to stay in the match, but as she faced her first match point, she double faulted to end the match in approximately 50 minutes.

After the match, Dawson said she worked on her game plan to adapt to the wind. “I was just trying to work the point and keeping a few more balls in play, especially when it’s windy like this,” she said. “You don’t want to go for too much and just try to find the court.”

Dawson, a tennis teaching professional at the nearby La Jolla Tennis Club, represented the U.S. in Young Cup (Women’s 40s) competition in last week’s ITF Seniors World Team Championships in San Diego. She helped lead her team to the finals, which fell to a strong French squad that featured former Women’s Tennis Association touring professional Sandrine Testud.

When Dawson was asked how she felt about the opportunity to play in such prestigious tennis events like the ITF Senior World Team and Individual Championships, she said, “It’s wonderful. It’s fantastic to be able to play people from all over the world. You play different people and different styles. It’s just a great experience and to have it in your backyard is just great. It’s been a wonderful event and it’s been a lot of fun.”

In other tournament action, fifth-seeded Jeff Greenwald, ninth-seeded Martin Barba and unseeded Douglas Failla of the United States all won their fourth-round matches in straight sets to advance to the singles quarterfinals of the Men’s 45 division at Morgan Run Club & Resort in Rancho Santa Fe.

Tournament admission to watch the matches is free and open to the public. On-site parking is available at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club for a nominal fee. There is no charge to park at other tournament venues.

For the most current draws and results for the 2012 ITF Seniors World Individual Championships, go to:www.itftennis.com/seniors