Blog: Florida Players Lead USA to 3 ITF Super-Senior Tennis Titles in Croatia

The U.S. won three Cup titles over the weekend at the ITF Super-Senior Team Championships in Croatia.

Carol Clay (Fort Lauderdale) and Kerry Young (Maitland) were members of the USA Kitty Godfree Cup team for women 65 and over who won the ITF World title in Croatia on Saturday. They beat Great Britain 2/1 in the final behind the stellar play of Brenda Carter (SC) at #2 singles and Young at #1. Young was described by one player as being very “clever” in the way she played and that is an accurate description of her game. Clay played doubles with Kathy Bennett (CA) but Bennett had to retire with an injury after the first set.

Rose Austin (Naples) captained the USA Doris Hart Cup team (women’s 80s) to its first ever win in that age division. In fact, Canada has won the Doris Hart Cup since its inception until now The USA won a three team round robin for the final, after winning a three team round robin to reach the medal round. Burnett Herrick (NC) and Judith Smith (MA) played the singles. The USA won both singles matches against Argentina and Great Britain to bring the Cup back to the USA. The Cup was one owned by Doris Hart, a longtime Florida resident and winner of each Grand Slam at least once in singles, doubles and mixed.

Floridians Michael Beautyman and Owen Robertson were members of the Britannia Cup which finished second only to Spain in men’s 65s. Beautyman teamed with captain Brian Cheney (AZ) to win the deciding doubles match against Swede in the first round and against France in the semis to help the USA reach the final. Robertson played singles and doubles during the week and went undefeated.

Joe Bachmann (Sarasota) captained the Jack Crawford Cup team (men’s 70s) to a final round finish, including a semifinal upset win over Austria. Bachmann unfortunately fell and sprained his knee in the match against Austria so was unable to play singles in the final. However Rudy Hernando (Fort Lauderdale) played and won the deciding doubles match against Austria in the semis, teaming with Lester Sack (LA). in the final against Germany, Sack lost at #2 singles in a tough three setter and Hernando fought hard but fell to the top German player 64 75.

Betty Wachob (Panama City) captained the Althea Gibson Cup team to a fifth place finish. Playing at #1 singles, she went 3/1 for the week. The team beat Switzerland and Australia to finish fifth after losing to the eventual finalist, Netherlands, in the round robin portion of the competition. Cathie Anderson (CA) played #2 singles and Lee Delfausse (VT) and Peggy Andry (LA) rounded out the team.

Donna Fales (Coral Gables) captained the Queens Cup to a win over Great Britain in the women’s 75s. The USA didn’t drop a match in five ties. Fales played #2 singles and some doubles; Lyn Little (CA) played #1 singles and Roz King (CA) and Grace Woo (NY) also played singles and doubles.

Overall the USA medalled in seven out of eight cups and won three, the Godfree, Hart and Queens Cups.

For more information on Senior International Team play, go to itftennis.com/seniors.