SENIOR www.scta.usta.com SoSuthern CaliforniaCT TennisA Association news JUNE 2005 Cups And Individual Championships Mark Winters iven the International Tennis Federation team and World GChampionships success enjoyed by Southern Californians in Perth, Australia, it would seem that their adaptability and talent turned them into first rate grass courts players. Anyone thinking that this statement is an exaggeration need only look at the results. Glenn Erickson captained the Men’s 40 Trabert Cup winner. Gretchen Magers was stalwart, going undefeated in the Women’s 40 Young Cup victory. As he does annually, Mike Fedderly played a major role in the Men’s 45 Dubler Cup trophy triumph. Tracey Thompson was a member of the Women’s 45 Cour t Cup team that California was well represented in Perth. Photos: Pat Parsons was a finalist. Geoff Cykman was on the Men’s 50 Perry Cup squad that did the same. Judy Louie, (who wrote the story on page 3), played for the Women’s 55 Connolly Cup team that also reached the final. Jennifer Dawson was on the Women’s 35 Lenglen Cup team that finished third. Kandy Chain, Leslie Airola-Murveit and Carolyn Nichols were all part of the Women’s 50 Bueno Cup third place result. Curtis Dunn and captain Hunter Gallaway were involved in the Men’s 35 Italia Cup fourth place finish. In individual play, which the host country dominated, taking eight of the 20 titles, locals were steadfast. Erickson teamed with singles winner Mario Tabares to take the Men’s 40 doubles title. Fedderly and singles final- ist Val Wilder were the Men’s 45 dou- bles champions. Curtis Dunn Hunter Gallaway www.scta.usta.com Cups And Individual Championships Jennifer Dawson Glenn Erickson Gretchen Magers Mike Fedderly Kandy Chain Judy Louie 2 www.scta.usta.com G’Day From Down Under Judy Louie ◗ The setting was enchanting because Perth is a lovely, livable city bordered by the meandering Swan River and beautiful Kings Park. ◗ had planned to depart the next day, had to change their flights out. The Australians were very friendly.This in Connoly Cup teammates Brenda Carter, Mary Wilson, Marilyn McCombs and Judy Louie. Photos: Pat Parsons spite of their passion for Aussie Rules foot- ball which is a rough sport. The US teams ach year senior tennis players from were held in Perth, largely because the city stayed at the same hotel. This enabled us to the age of 30 to 90 battle in tour- has the largest number of grass courts in have some meals together and support each Enaments locally, sectionally and the world. Each of the three sites that other when we could. Opportunities to do nationally. Not only do these competitors were used had between 15 and 30 grass the latter were rare, because the format for love the game and accompanying cama- courts. The setting was enchanting because play was two singles and a doubles, which raderie, they also want to earn the pièce Perth is a lovely, livable city bordered by took up most of the day. de résistance – a chance to play on a the meandering Swan River and beautiful Eventually, there was time to see kan- US Cup team. Kings Park. It was fall and the weather was garoos and koalas, and do some shop- Each country has its own requirements warm and dry, much like Southern ping. Overall,the US teams did very well. for team selection. Due to the popularity of California. (It did, however, rain on the day Everyone left feeling rewarded by the International Tennis Federation team play, the of the final - wouldn't you know it - it was experience of playing on a Cup team, competition is divided into two groups: April 1st.) A number of U.S. players, who thinking – Good On ‘Ya. Group “A”consists of 10 teams (five men’s and five women’s) in the following age divisions – 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55.Group “B”has the 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 age divi- sions for men. The women field 60, 65, 70 and 75 teams. The Group “A”competition was held in Perth, Australia, March 27-April 1. Because the trip required a flight lasting from 18 to 23 hour s, depending on the city of departure, and because the competition was played on grass, a surface that most players are not familiar with, team members were encouraged to arrive a couple of days before matches started. The ITF Team Championships The US teams performed impressively. 3 www.scta.usta.com World Cup Tie Mark Winters Bill Lurie backed the Cup. The competition was a sponsor favorite. he Lurie World Cup, a two-day con- SATURDAY SUNDAY test (the weekend before the start of T the Campbell’s National Men’s 60 & Te d Z o o b ( U S ) d . D a ve Carey (W) Carey/Rogers (W) d. Lurie/Zoob (US) 90 Hard Court Championships), high- 6-3 7-5 6-4, 7-6 lighted the talents of Men’s 90 competitors. Tr a c y S t r o n g (US) d. Wolfgang Marcuse (W) Marcuse/Mestre (W) d. Hosted by the Palm Springs Tennis Club, 4-6 6-4 6-3 Hurme/Strong (US) home of the World Cup, a US contingent Bill Rogers (W) d. Bill Lurie (US) 7- 5, 6 - 2 faced a World team composed of players 6-0 6-3 Ed Baumer/Crary (US) d. from Australia, Canada, Israel, Mexico and Marco Mestre (W) d. Charlie Hurme (US) Gunn/Jim Talman (W) New Zealand. 3-6 6- 6-2 6-4, 6-1 Singles victories by Ted Zoob, Tracy Doug Crary (US) d. Max Gunn (W) Strong and Doug Crary carried the US to a 6-3 6-2 3-2 lead in the first days’ play. The World team rebounded, annexing two doubles wins, to close out the weekend in a 4-4 tie. Event founder Bill Lurie paid the air fare for members of the World Cup team, and subsidized the housing for all the players. The spectacular closing luncheon at Spenser's, the Tennis Club’s award winning restaurant, left the competitors and organ- izers talking about the next World Cup face-off that is expected to take place April 1- 2, 20 06. For information on next year’s Lurie World Cup or the Campbell’s National Men’s 60 & 90 Hard Court Championships, contact Steve Solomon at (760) 325-8084 or [email protected] Dave Carey, Bill Rogers, Bill Lurie and Ted Zoob truly enjoyed the 90s event. 4 www.scta.usta.com Another “A” Mark Winters aving run major tournaments for Hyears, Steve and Abby Solomon know how to come up with the goods. Based on comments that were made following the Campbell’s National Men’s 60 & 90 Hard Court Championships, played at the Mission Hills Country Club, the hus- band/wife team earned another “A”. Saying that the 77 entries made the Men’s 60 singles “the strongest field I can remember,” Solomon added, “the final in Geoff Grant and Ken Dahl fell to the two-time champions, Jim Parker and Ken Robinson, in 60s play. which Hugh Thomson defeated Jim Parker with Carey to sur- never dull. Solomon noted, “last year dur- 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 was the prise last year’s ing the Campbell's National Men 60 & 90 best match I have ever Men’s 90 doubles Championships one of the non-English seen in 60s play.” winners, Wolfgang speaking German players required emer- Repetition was a Marcuse/Zoob gency surgery. I arranged for his medical theme in both events. 4-6, 7-6, 6-0 and care and found housing for the players’ wife “Parker and Ken claimed his first when she arrived from Germany. This year, Robinson, considered by gold ball. a 90-year-old from New Zealand left his most players to be the The Men’s 60 sin- heart medicine at home. I spent several best 60s team in the gles and doubles hours contacting local doctors arranging world, again captured the winners not only for a US prescription. Fortunately, both title,” Solomon said. “Ted picked up gold balls, cases worked out for the best.” Zoob won the gold in they also received He concluded, “we apologize for the the Men’s 90 singles for Ted Zoob and Wolfgang Marcuse were good. airline tickets from construction at Mission Hills. Next year, the second straight Hawaiian Airlines. there will be a spectacular health spa and year.Thirty-seven of the 39 players eligible The consolation finalists received a 3-night restaurant at the tennis clubhouse that will to participate entered the Men’s 60 singles Las Vegas stay compliments of the Fairfield be ready for the National Men’s 60 & 90 Consolation. This is because the Grand Hotel. Hard Court Championships tentatively Campbell’s event has first and second day “Our primary sponsors, Campbell's, scheduled for April 3-9, 2006.” consolation which allows participants to BMW, Hawaiian Airlines, Diadora, Extra play every day with no break in between. Holidays and The Tennis Channel, along Steve Ronfeldt claimed the title for the with our product sponsors, support senior second year in a row.” tennis,” Solomon noted, “We had lots of For those keeping records, Parker/ television, radio and local press, much of Robinson stopped Ken Dahl/Geoff Grant which can be credited to the 90-year-old 6-4, 6-3 in Men’s 60 doubles play. Ronfeldt players. Their attitude and ability were erased Mike Suputo 6-0, 6-1 in the outstanding.