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2013
USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships
By
J. Fred Sidhu
La
Jolla, Calif.
Monday, May 13, 2013
San Diego’s Shelley
Susman made a winning return to competitive tennis on the
singles court as she defeated Susan
Lammers
of Seattle, 6-2, 6-1, to advance to the second round of the Women’s 50s
Division at the USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis
Championships.
On a warm, sunny day at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis
Club, the
49-year-old Susman won her first tournament singles match in almost 30
years after she stopped playing competitive tennis in the mid-1980s due
to injuries.
It
was back in 1981 when Susman captured the individual singles title at
the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Section
Girls’ Tennis Championship while playing tennis for La Jolla High
School. She later played collegiate tennis at San Diego State
University.
A resident of the San Diego community of Carmel Valley, Susman began
playing tennis again two years ago and has played in several women’s
doubles leagues. She is currently a tennis teaching professional at the
Surf & Turf Tennis Club in Del Mar, Calif.
“It felt fantastic. It felt great to be out here
and
getting back into the (singles) game,” said Susman following her
first-round victory. “I had a good warm-up before I played the match.
My opponent was tough and it wasn’t pretty sometimes, but I got through
it.”
Susman, who will face third-seeded Vicki Buholz
of Dallas on Tuesday at 9 a.m. (PDT), said, “It’s really nice to be
able to get back into the game. It’s nice to see some of my peers and
it’s good to get back to my roots in tennis. We’ll see what happens
tomorrow.”
Susman is the daughter of Karen Hantze Susman,
who won the Wimbledon singles title in 1962 and Wimbledon doubles title
with Billie Jean King
in 1961 and 1962.
After her singles match on Monday morning, Susman acknowledged that she
received some inspiration earlier in the day from her mother, who
packed a bag of snacks for her that included a hand-written note of
encouragement.
Tuesday, May 14
Top-seeded Tracy
Houk of
Montara, Calif., is playing in her third Women’s 50s tournament at the
USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships this week
at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
After losing in the Women’s 50s singles final the past two years, the
51-year-old hopes the third time is the charm and this will be the year
she breaks through and wins the national title and the USTA gold ball.
On a cool, mostly cloudy morning, Houk, who
received a
first-round bye, began her quest for the championship as she scored a
hard-fought 6-2, 6-0, second-round victory over Tai Sisson of San
Dimas, Calif.
“I had to step it up a little bit. These girls
get the
ball back, they run down a lot of balls and they’re in really good
shape,” Houk said after the match. “I’m taking it one match at a time.
Every match is going to get tougher.”
With the second-round victory, Houk advances to
the quarterfinals, where she will face fifth-seeded Marianne Caplan
of Harrisburg, Pa., at 10:30 a.m. (PDT) on Wednesday.
A veteran tournament player, Houk holds 18 gold balls for winning USTA
national singles and doubles titles in various age divisions, including
the doubles championship at last year’s Women’s 50s at the
LJB&TC.
However, she is still looking for her for first
hard court
singles title in the Women’s 50s.
When asked about her chances of winning this year’s singles title, Houk
responded, “I never look too far ahead with each match, but if I make
it to the finals, it’s got to be this year. I love this tournament.
It’s my favorite tournament and I look forward to coming here every
year.”
In other Women’s 50s singles action, third-seeded Vicki Buholz of
Dallas eliminated Shelley
Susman of San Diego, 6-1, 6-2 and second-seeded Frances Chandler of
Jackson, Tenn. got past Jenny
Keller of La Jolla, Calif., 6-2, 7-5.
The Women’s 90s doubles final will be played on
Wednesday at 1 p.m. (PDT). San Diego’s Jane Howard and Helene Salvetat of
Hossegor, France, will face Elizabeth
Cookson of San Mateo, Calif., and Lucille Trefzger of
Lake Oswego, Ore.
Wednesday, May 15
Second-seeded Frances
Chandler of Jackson, Tenn., defeated Canada’s Erin Boynton,
6-2, 6-3, to advance to the Women’s 50s singles semifinals at the USTA
National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships.
Playing on Court No. 8 on a cool, breezy day, Chandler needed one-hour
and 25 minutes to get past the fifth-seeded Boynton, who hails from
Toronto.
Using her strong baseline game, Chandler built a 4-1 lead and would go
on to win the first set in 33 minutes.
In the second set, Boynton served at 2-3 and
fought off
six break points to win a 16-point game and tie the set at 3-3.
In the next game, Chandler saved a break point and held serve to take a
4-3 lead and went on to win the next 10 out of 12 points to close out
the match.
“It was a lot tougher than 2 and 3. She had me on
the
ropes a lot. She helped me out a couple of times on short forehands
when she missed,” Chandler said. “If she had hit them, they would have
been winners and it (the match) could have gone the other way.”
The 51-year-old Chandler is looking to regain the
Women’s
50s title she won at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club in 2011,
when
she defeated Tracy Houk
of Montara, Calif., in the final.
In last year’s tournament, Houk turned the tables
as she defeated Chandler in the semifinals.
“Tracy beat me last year and there are a lot of
tough
players, so there is not an easy match anywhere,” said Chandler, who
admitted that in would mean a lot to her to win the USTA gold ball.
In Thursday’s Women’s 50s singles semifinals,
Chandler will face fifth-seeded Judy
Newman of Scotts Valley, Calif, who ousted third-seeded Vicki Buholz of
Dallas, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Houk will play fourth-seeded Carolyn Nichols
of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
If Chandler and Houk win their semifinal matches, they will meet yet
again in the Women’s 50s. This time, it would be in Friday’s singles
championship final.
Elizabeth
Cookson of San Mateo, Calif., and Lucille Trefzger of
Lake Oswego, Ore. wrapped up the
Women’s 90s doubles title as they combined to defeat San Diego’s Jane Howard and Helene Salvetat of
Hossegor, France, 6-4, 6-2, in the championship.
Thursday, May 16
It will be a day filled with Championship matches
at the
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club as the singles finals of the
Women’s
50s, 60s, 70s and 80s Divisions will all be played on Friday at the
USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships.
The Women’s 50s singles final, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will feature
top-seeded Tracy Houk
of Montara, Calif. versus second-seeded Frances Chandler of
Jackson, Tenn.
The meeting will mark the third consecutive year
they have met in the Women’s 50s event in La Jolla.
The 51-year-old Houk reached the Women’s 50s singles final for the
third straight year after defeating fourth-seeded Carolyn Nichols
of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., 6-4, 6-3, in Thursday’s semifinals. Houk is
looking to win her first career USTA National 50s singles title.
“It feels great and I just look forward to
tomorrow,” Houk
said after her semifinal victory over Nichols. “I’m going to have to
dig deep (in the final) and stay focused. My game is here and it’s up
to me.”
Chandler advanced to Friday’s singles final with
an impressive 6-1, 6-3, victory over fifth-seeded Judy Newman
of Scotts Valley, Calif. The 51-year-old Chandler won the Women’s 50s
singles title in 2011, defeating Houk in the final. She fell to Houk in
last year’s semifinals.
The Women’s 60s singles final will be contested
between top-seeded Tina
Karwasky of Glendale, Calif., and third-seeded Mary Ginnard of Fort
Lauderdale, Fla. at 9 a.m.
Top-seeded Charleen
Hillebrand of San Pedro, Calif. will play second-seeded Catherine Anderson
of Del Mar, Calif. at 9 a.m. for the Women’s 70s singles title.
Number one-seeded Margaret
Canby of San Antonio will face second-seeded Doris Lutz of
Sarasota, Fla., in the Women’s 80s singles championship at 10:30 a.m.
Friday, May 17
The third time was the charm for top-seeded Tracy Houk of
Montara, Calif., as she overwhelmed second-seeded Frances Chandler
of Jackson, Tenn., 6-1, 6-0, to win the Women’s 50s singles title of
the USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Championships at the La
Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
The 51-year-old Houk had been a tournament singles
finalist the past two years, but fell short each time. This year
however, there was no doubt as she broke Chandler’s serve at love to
open match and won 12 of the first 14 points and would go on to build a
5-0 first set lead. After closing out the first set with her fourth
service break, a determined Houk stayed focused in the second set and
continued to pressure Chandler from the baseline in dominating fashion
as she won 12 of the first 15 points.
Houk proceeded to wrap up the second set in 25
minutes to
win her first USTA National Women’s 50s singles title.
“I just went in there determined. I knew I could
do it. I
wanted to put 110 percent into it and I did,” said an overjoyed Houk.
“I’m in shock. There was more emotion the last two years when I lost.
This year, it hasn’t hit me yet because I worked so hard to get here,
but I am truly happy. It’s incredible.”
Houk, who thanked her coach Mike Zarraonandia
for helping her win the tournament, said the key to her victory was her
intensity and the ability to keep the ball deep in the court during the
match to prevent Chandler from attacking.
In other title matches played on Friday, defending
champion and top seed Tina
Karwasky of Glendale, Calif., won the Women’s 60s singles
crown as she got past third-seeded Mary
Ginnard of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 6-4, 6-4. It was the
second straight year Karwasky defeated Ginnard in the final.
“It’s always tough play Mary because we’re both so
competitive,” Karwasky said after her match. “She raises the level of
her game every time she plays me, so I never know what to expect. I
just made a few less unforced errors.”
In the Women’s 70s singles final, second-seeded Catherine Anderson
of Del Mar, Calif. scored a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over top-seeded Charleen Hillebrand
of San Pedro, Calif. to win the title.
Number one-seeded Margaret
Canby of San Antonio defeated second-seeded Doris Lutz of
Sarasota, Fla., 6-3, 6-4, to capture the Women’s 80s singles
championship.
Saturday, May 18
With main draw singles matches already completed,
consolation matches took center stage at the USTA National Senior
Women’s Hard Court Championships at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis
Club.
On a bright and sunny Saturday morning, third-seeded Vicki Buholz
of Dallas advanced to the Women’s 50s Consolation singles final with an
entertaining come-from-behind, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-1,semifinal victory over
fifth-seeded Erin Boynton
of Toronto.
Earlier in the week, Buholz was eliminated in the
main draw quarterfinals after losing to fifth-seeded Judy Newman of
Scotts Valley, Calif. 6-3, 7-6 (5).
“(Judy and I) go back and forth. She can play
really tough
and she played solid that day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her play
better,” said Buholz as she spoke about her quarterfinal loss to
Newman.
“She was coming in on everything and of course I was hitting the ball
short. I tried to get it deep and I just had a hard time,” Buholz
added. “I don’t feel bad losing to Judy, she played great.”
Following her main draw quarterfinal loss, Buholz
is
enjoying playing in the tournament’s consolation rounds. “I love
tennis. I have a passion for tennis. I play every match I can play. I’m
excited to play in the final,” she said. “I love this tournament and
every win is a win.”
In Sunday’s Women’s 50s Consolation singles final, which is
scheduled for 8 a.m. (PDT), Buholz will face her best friend and
doubles partner, Kathy
Vick of Lubbock, Texas.
Sunday, May 19
Third-seeded Vicki
Buholz of
Dallas ended the USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Championships
on a winning note as she won the Women’s 50 Consolation singles title
for the second consecutive year.
Playing on the historic Court No. 1 at the La Jolla Beach &
Tennis
Club, Buholz defeated her best friend and doubles partner Kathy Vick of
Lubbock, Texas, who was forced to retire at 5-0 in the first set due to
a shoulder injury.
Vick, who was the tournament’s fifth seed,
suffered the
injury during a doubles match on Friday.
“It’s kind of disappointing that I didn’t get to play a good match with
Kathy because Kathy is a good competitor and we love to compete. I feel
sorry for her,” said Buholz, who defeated Toronto’s Erin Boynton in last
year’s Women’s 50s Consolation title match.
In other tournament action on Sunday, Susan Bramlette of
Houston, edged Victoria
McEvoy of Cambridge, Mass., 7-5, 7-6 (0), to win the
Women’s 60s Consolation singles title and Lurline Fujii of La
Habra, Calif., won the Women’s 70s Consolation singles final with a
6-1, 6-2 victory over Lyn
Tietz of Hinsdale, Ill.
"It was spectacular week of entertaining tennis
during
these senior championships at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis
Club,"
said Tournament Director and LJB&TC President Bill Kellogg.
"The fans who attended and the players who participated had a great
time. We are already looking forward to next year's event."
The 2014 USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court
Championships are scheduled for May 12-18 at the La Jolla Beach
&
Tennis Club.
For complete scores and results from this year’s event, go to: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=125267
Designated as 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 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 award-winning 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 LJBTC.com.
USTA
National Senior Women’s Hard Court Championships
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
La Jolla, Calif.
Surface: Hard Court
Sunday’s Results
Women's 50 Singles
Consolation - Championship
Vicki Buholz (3), Dallas, def. Kathy Vick (5), Lubbock, Texas, 5-0,
ret. (right shoulder injury)
Women's 60 Singles
Consolation - Championship
Susan Bramlette (5), Houston, def. Victoria McEvoy (5), Cambridge,
Mass., 7-5, 7-6 (0)
Women's 70 Singles
Consolation - Championship
Lurline Fujii (4), La Habra, def. Lyn Tietz, Hinsdale, Ill., 6-1, 6-2
Women's 80 Singles
Consolation - Championship
Janet Hubbard, Huntington Beach, def. Irene Bretzel, Fircrest, Wash.,
W/O
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