Aussies doing well at the Worlds

25-Oct-2008 - Robyn Castle

Many Australians featured in Semi Finals, under a cloudless sky and in mild to warm temperatures. Club Ali Bey was a picture, and the tennis we witnessed was worthy of greater recognition, the 35Men’s in particular, was a display of such power and accuracy as you would see in the “big time”.

From 35s to 85s – their athletic ability leaves nothing to be desired. Drop shots, lobs and scintillating drives are the order of the day, with twenty – odd Aussies trying to make their mark in Seniors’ history.

West Australia’s Margaret Robinson has already won the 75WD, with Nancy Reed (USA). Poor Peg Hoysted (NSW) had to withdraw with an injured Achilles, or it could have been an All-Australian combo. Margaret is to play the Final of the Singles against Canadian Muffie Grieve who surprised everyone when she defeated #1 seed, Mary Boswell (USA) in three sets. Margaret is going for her third World Singles title, having won in 2003 and 2005.

The Women’s 55s sees a possible fairytale in the making, with Liz Allan going for her 16^th consecutive World Doubles. With Kerry Ballard, they scraped through a tough encounter with the South Africans to meet (for a third successive year) Australians Adrienne Avis and Helen Worland. This pair had struggled through a tight semi final against Nora Blom and Marjory Love.

Our former World Champ and #1 seed in 50s Ros Balodis has set up a return match with American Di Fishburne, as predicted, and will try to avenge last week’s defeat. In the Doubles, she and Kaye Nealon will face Americans Robinson and Wright who beat Aussie Lyn Mortimer and partner, in the other semi.

Carol Campling and French woman Nicole Hesse-Cazaux will face the Germans Jackie Boothman and Ellie Krocke in the 60 WD.

Glenn Busby and Andrew Rae both gave us some anxious moments in their semi-finals, as they each dropped their first set. Both, however, came through and will contest yet another Final.

Queensland’s Max Bates has paired with a Brasilian to make the Final of the 55 Men’s Doubles, and will face the hot American pair who beat Andrew Rae and Russell Watts in the other semi. Bruce Osborne is with Belgian Pierre Godfroid in the Final of the 50 Men’s Doubles.

Our octogenarians are still going strong, with last week’s heroes, Ward Hillier and Doug Corbett  in the Final of the 80s, and Nev Halligan lost a close 3-setter in the 85MD, but will play in the Singles Final.

Some Finals will be played on Saturday, and the rest on Sunday. Unfortunately, our 55s Women will be waiting till Sunday, so your Publicity person will have to receive the news second-hand! Aussies will win Gold and Silver, whatever happens!

Results...

SEMI FINALS

Men’s Singles

M50, G Busby (AUS) d M Vines 26 63 61

M55 A Rae (AUS) d  V Costella (ITA) 67 60 61

 

Women’s Singles

W50 R Balodis (AUS) d C Nichols (USA) 62 60

W55 N Blom (NED) d K  Ballard (AUS) 60 60 H Eisterlehner (GER) d H Worland (AUS) 63 64

W60 P Kruger (RSA) d C Campling (AUS) 64 16 61

 

Doubles

W50 R Balodis K Nealon (AUS) d D Fishburne P Blackwell 64 64  M Robinson S Wright (USA) d  L Mortimer (AUS) H Eisterlehner (AUT) 57 62 76

W55 A Avis H Worland (AUS) d N Blom (NED) M Love (GBR) 61 46 76 K Ballard E Allan (AUS) d P Kruger K Bischoff (RSA) 75 57  63

W60 C Campling (AUS) N Hesse Cazaux (FRA) d S Bauwens (GER) R Schroder (GER) 62 60

W65 R Darmon F Durr (FRA) d J Hancy J Taylor (AUS) 57 62 61 S Hill (GBR) C Hillebrand (USA) d I Delamare (FRA) H Muir (AUS) 76 62

W70 D DeVries R King (USA) d N Collins L Heumiller (AUS) 60 64

W75 M Robinson (AUS) N Reed (USA) d V Laverock J Zylstra (RSA) 61 64

 

Men’s Doubles

M35 P Hopfe M Joachim (GER) d R Traforti M Richards (AUS) 62 62

M40 S/F C Schall (GER) B Theelen (NED) d A Schuelke C O’Mara (AUS) 64 75

M45 R Grant S Smedley (AUS) d J Goudenbour (LUX) M Kern (GER) W/O

M50 P Godfroid (BEL) B Osborne (AUS) d A Allen P French (GBR) 64 61

M55 M Bates (AUS) R Guedes (BRA) d H Hellmonseder A Klammer 63 62.  P Landauer T Smith (USA) d A Rae R Watts (AUS) 61 61

M60 P Adrigan (GER) F Briscoe (GBR) d A Gooch H Rees (AUS) 63 67 64  

M65 J Parker K Robinson (USA) d D Bindon B Howes (AUS) 63 64 

M75 G Nelson S Snyder (USA) d G Brown N Langford (AUS) 63 67 62

M80 D Corbett W Hillier (AUS) d C Hopp J Morton 75 36 62

 

Consolation Singles

W50 A Simons(NED) d W Harrison (AUS) 62 60

W60 L Krammer (AUT) d K Blackburne (AUS) 62 57 10-4

M70 H Bachmann (GER) d T Hancy (AUS) 75 63

 

Robyn Castle reporting the news from Turkey (in between playing and watching some awesome tennis)