October 29th, Dateline Ali Bey Manavgat, near Antalya, Turkey 

USA Super Senior Cup teams won four of the nine Cups held in Turkey on October 28^th. Two American teams placed second, one was third, one fourth and one fifth.  

The men’s and women’s 70s, men’s 60s and women’s 65s teams were victorious. The men’s 80s and 75s finished second. The remaining teams were the men’s 65s, third; women’s 75s, fourth, and women’s 60s, fifth. 

The men’s 60s played Switzerland today. Hugh Thompson got the USA off to a good start with a straight set win at #2 singles. Mike Beautyman followed at #1 singles and lost a tough 3-setter. Charlie Hoeveler and Dick Johnson played the doubles for the Americans and won the doubles convincingly to clinch the tie and retain the Von Cramm Cup for the USA.  

The men’s 70s played the Peter Froehlich-led Australian team. Herm Ahlers continued his fine play at #2 singles, winning in straight sets to start the USA off 1-0. Ahlers was the only player on the team who did not drop a set all week. Froehlich and the wind played havoc with Gordon Davis’ game and the Aussies leveled the tie at 1-1. Bob Duesler/Jim Nelson, American “golden” slam winners this year in 70 doubles formed a wall at the net that the Aussies could not penetrate. They won 63 61, sealing the Crawford Cup win for the Americans.  

The women’s 70s played France in the final. Burnette Herrick had a tough match at #2 singles, but finally won the match in three sets to put the USA up 1-0. Dori deVries followed with a nearly flawless performance at #1 singles, winning 60 60 to give the USA an unsurmountable 20 lead. Belmar Gunderson/Mary Boswell made that 3-0 with a close but straight set victory in the doubles.  

The women’s 65s played at Belek and won both singles against France, with Suella Steel playing #2 singles and Charleen Hillebrand playing #1. They won the tie 2-1. Susanne Clark/Grace Woo played doubles. They won the Kitty Godfree Cup. Last year the USA finished 5^th in this event.  

The men’s 80s, the Gardnar Mulloy Cup, was won by the top seeds, Austria, over the USA. Tony Franco got the Americans off to a great start with a quick win over Oskar Jirkovsky at #2 singles. It was Franco’s first win over Jirkovsky. Laci Legenstein put in an impressive performance against Graydon Nichols at #1 singles, winning 60 62. He used his racquet like a magic wand, placing the ball wherever he wished. Franco and Nichols played Jirkovsky/Legenstein in the deciding doubles match. They were blanked in the first set but looked likely to level the match at a set apiece when they were up 5-3 in the 2^nd set. The Austrians rallied to force a tiebreaker, which they won 7-3. The 2^nd set was highly entertaining, lots of lobs, angles and extended rallies.  

The men’s 75s fell to Canada in a repeat of last year’s final. It was an excellent result though for the Americans who were playing without their #1 player, Russell Seymour. Seymour hurt his pectoral muscle on the first day of practice and was unable to serve the rest of the week. Chuck deVoe and George McCabe played the singles the rest of the week.  

The men’s 65s fell to Austria in the semis, but won the ¾ playoff to finish third. Austria won the Britannia Cup.  

The women’s 75s had a tough week. They lost today to Canada 2-1. It was a very close match. Jane Lutz won at #2 singles over Joyce Jones. Louise Russ then took on Rosie Asch who beat her 63 62 earlier in the week. This time Russ won the first set, but dropped  the 2^nd. She looked to be on her way to a win, up 53 in the third, but Asch rallied and won the set 76. Asch/Jones then beat Suzanne Ryerson/Russ 75 63 to take third for Canada. Great Britain won the Queens Cup for the first time, beating New Zealand in the final. USA had never lost a Queens Cup up till this year, but the event is becoming more popular each year.   

The women’s 60s finished strongly after losing to France, the #1 seed, in the round robin portion of the event. They beat Japan today 3-0 to place fifth. Germany edged France to win the Alice Marble Cup over France 2-1.

Click here for all results on the ITF Seniors Web site.

I’m typing this at the tennis center in the dark at 10pm…very quiet. It’s the only place that has internet service I can use with my computer after 8 pm.

The opening ceremonies took place today. I got photos of all the teams but the men’s 60, Von Cramm, as the 4^th player  Hugh, was busy winning a red clay tournament in Spain.

Here’s an update on the seeds as I know it, for the Americans. There may be more information posted at www.itftennis.com/seniors, but I haven’t gone there to look yet.

Women’s Teams:

Marble, 60s: They were not seeded. There are 14 teams and they were drawn with the Netherlands and France, the #1 seeds and defending champions. They play Netherlands tomorrow and France on Tuesday. Tomorrow Brenda Carter is playing 1, Betty Wachob 2 and Mary Wilson and Judy Louie will play doubles if they win the singles, otherwise, I don’t know.

70s, Gibson Cup…I think we are seeded 1 in the 70s and I don’t know much else, I got interrupted with taking photos of the teams. I’ll have more details tomorrow, but I believe the 70s ladies have a day off tomorrow.

75s, Queens Cup:  seeded #1 and they are in a 3 person RR with Canada, which has Rosie Asch, which is tough. Great Britain is in the other, 4 team RR. 

Men’s 60s…actually I didn’t talk to Charlie Hoeveler about the draw, I will do so tomorrow, and I know they do play tomorrow and were quite confident. I believe that Hugh and Mike Beautyman are playing the singles tomorrow.

Men’s 70s…again, took photos but didn’t talk to Jim much as he was the last captain done and it was a rush.

Men’s 80s. They are seeded #1 and are in the RR with Australia. They have a bye tomorrow which is good  They play Australia, which is tough, on Thursday, they are in a 4 team RR. The 2^nd seeds are Austria, Legenstein and Jirkovsky. Jirkovsky beat Tony Franco last year in the semis of the worlds and he plays #2. Legenstein is playing #1 and is good but has a thin record of late. Australia has 2 “young” players…born in 1926.

I’ll do my best to update this and add some photos soon.

Carolyn.

The USA teams all arrived in Turkey. I am at Ali Bey Manavgat where our men’s and women’s 60 and 70 teams and our men’s 80 and women’s 75 teams are playing.

The captains’ meetings are tomorrow between about 1 and 3 pm, and at 4pm the opening ceremonies will take place. 

The 60 women were out practicing all day today. The men’s 70s had a long afternoon practice. The men’s 60s were seen playing some singles. The women’s 75s also had dual practices, as did the men’s 80s. The women’s 70s were out twice too, so everyone is working hard to try and defend their titles, as all of these teams except for the women’s 60s are defending their 2005 titles, which they won here.

The weather was quite perfect today, warm, sunny and calm, excellent practice weather.

There will be another update tomorrow night or Monday morning after I learn the seeds and draws.

Carolyn

Who says Californians can’t play on clay? The gold balls in the 50s today went to three Californians. Robin Ogburn and Chris Ramsower-Pearlstein won their third title of 2006 and their second national in Pensacola. They beat the second seeds, Sherri Bronson of Scottsdale and the lone Floridian in the final, Frances O’Sullivan. They will also finish the year ranked #1 as a team and also co-ranked #1 individually. Becky Holland won her first ever USTA ball, a bronze, teaming with Jan Kirkland-Cochran (it was bronze #3 for Jan) to beat Debbie Burgess/Sue Sprague 46 61 61. The third seeds, Bohac/Morgan took fifth.

Carolyn Nichols and Bronson met in the final for the second straight year, and Nichols defended her title, a first for her. She won 63 63. It was closer than the score would indicate…Ogburn and O’Sullivan began at the same time, and were finished (Ogburn won 62 63) about the time Nichols/Bronson were starting the 2^nd game of the 2^nd set. No one ever said I played too quickly though. Fifth place went to Hiko Fritz-Krakow who had a great week, beating the 6^th seed, and then the 5^th seed, Mary Morgan, in the consolation final.

Mary Dailey also defended her 40 doubles final, which she won with Renata Marcinkowska in 05. This year she played with Diane Fishburne and didn’t miss a beat, winning the final 76 63 over Mariana Hollman-Anna Zimmerman. The bronze went to Kathy Vick/Annemarie Brigandi by default over Bronson/Ellen Markowitz (plane to catch and late start to the doubles).

In the semis Dailey/Fishburne had a tough test, edging Brigandi/Vick 64 75 (and rallying from 1-5 down in the 2^nd set to win it).

The rain of yesterday was a distant memory today, it was a bright sunny warm day.

Results: http://tournaments.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=39457