 Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 May 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 May 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 May 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 May 2009 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 May 2009 |  Photographer:
Date: 02 May 2009 |
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| 02 May 2009 - Beach Club Font de Sa Cala, Mallorca - Helen McFetridge | |
| Seniors world team titles decided in Mallorca |
The Seniors World Team Championships drew to a close today in Mallorca, with champions crowned in all ten age categories.
One of the biggest upsets of the day was Great Britain’s victory over top seeds and three-time defending champions USA in the Maria Esther Bueno Cup (W50) final. The Americans had won the title in five of the last six years and were heavy favourites to do so again this year. Anthea Stewart got Great Britain off to a good start by beating Susan Wright in straight sets before Chris French sealed the win by beating Diane Fishburne 64 76. USA gained some consolation by winning the doubles with the tie already decided. Second seeds Australia claimed the bronze over France in a doubles third set tie-break.
USA had more success in the other women’s cups, however, winning both the Margaret Court Cup (W45) and Maureen Connolly Cup (W55). The first match of the Margaret Court Cup was close, with Mariana Hollman coming back from the loss of the first set 60 to beat Barbora Koutna of the Czech Republic 75 in the third, but then Gretchen Magers easily defeated Eva Zalabska 60 61 in the second match. Italy beat France 2-1 to take the bronze medal.
The Maureen Connolly Cup victory over Spain was more straightforward for the USA, and was in fact the most one-sided final of the day. Joanne Russell beat Rosa Maria Torres 61 61 at no.2 singles, Tina Karwasky beat Carmen Perea 62 61 in the battle of the no.1s, then Martha Downing and Mary Ginnard eased to a 62 60 doubles victory over Perea and Silvia Blume. Great Britain won the bronze medal over Netherlands.
In contrast, the finals in the younger women’s age categories couldn’t have been closer. In the Young Cup (W40) Italy and France faced off in a repeat of the 2007 final, which was won by France. This time, Italy won the first singles match as Federica Bonsignori beat Valerie Le Droff Vernet in two sets before Virginie Buisson, undefeated in seniors tennis, levelled the tie with a 62 57 63 win over Anna Maria Cecchini. Vernet and Buisson then teamed up in the doubles but were powerless to halt the Italian pair of Bonsignori and Cristina Casini, who won 63 62 to take the title. Third seeds USA beat Spain 2-1 to win the bronze.
France were also in action in the Suzanne Lenglen Cup (W35), where they faced the team who had beaten them in the last two finals, Spain. The last two finals had gone to a deciding doubles, but this time France prevailed in two tight singles rubbers. Olivia Cappelletti beat Noelia Perez 75 74 in the first rubber, then Caroline Dhenin defeated reigning world champion Ana Salas 75 75 in the second match. The bronze was won by Germany who beat Great Britain 2-0.
The men’s cups also featured some nailbiting finals, again involving French teams. In the Tony Trabert Cup (M40), France were aiming to get their revenge against Italy, who had beaten them in the final in the last two years. Franck Fevrier defeated Luca Vigani 60 63 to put the French one ahead, and when Lionnel Barthez took the first set 61 against Enrico Casadei it looked like they were heading to victory. However, Casadei hit back to win 16 62 64 to take the match into a deciding doubles. Again the French pair of Christophe Janin and Olivier Cayla won the first set, but again the Italians, Casadei and Giovanni Lelli Mami, came back to win 36 76 62 to retain the trophy for the third successive year. Netherlands defeated Argentina 2-1 to win the bronze.
France also featured in the final of the Austria Cup (M55) and again were within a set of victory. Gary Thoroughgood put the Australians ahead with a 64 75 win over Bruno Renoult, but Marc Renoult handed Andrew Rae his first defeat since October to put France back into contention. The brothers took the first set of the doubles but in the end the Australian pair of Thoroughgood and Michael Collins emerged victorious 46 64 61. Germany destroyed local hopes of another medal by beating Spain 2-0 in the third place play-off.
Spain were guaranteed a medal in the Italia Cup (M35), however, as they faced second seeds Austria in an attempt to regain the title they won in 2006 and 2007. David Valeriano beat Gerald Mandl to put the Spanish ahead, but Spanish hopes of victory were dashed when their number one Oscar Martinez was forced to retire injured in the second set against Werner Eschauer. Eschauer and Mandl then teamed up to beat the Spanish doubles pair Alex Lopez and David Salvador 63 62 to win Austria’s first ever Italia Cup. France beat Germany with two straight sets singles wins to take third place.
Austria were also involved in the final of the Dubler Cup (M45), against fifth seeds Germany. Stefan Fasthoff beat world champion Manfred Hundstorfer to put Germany ahead but Gerald Kaiser overcame Stefan Eggmayer after a long three set struggle to make it 1-1. The doubles was also a close match but the German pair of Fasthoff and Stefan Heckmanns emerged victorious 76 64 over Hundstorfer and Kaiser to win the cup. Host nation Spain narrowly missed out on another medal as they lost 21 to France.
The USA won their only men’s title in the Fred Perry Cup (M50) as they defeated Germany 2-0 after having earlier in the day beaten Austria in the deciding doubles of their semi-final. Mike Fedderly and Peter Markes had straight sets wins over Norbert Henn and Manfred Jungnitsch respectively to seal the win. Austria recovered well from the loss of their match this morning however, winning the bronze medal with a 2-1 defeat of Australia.
Related Articles
> Seniors teams set up final showdowns
> USA victim of upsets in Mallorca
> Day 2 at Senior World Team Championships
> Action underway at Senior World Team Championships
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