USA claim five trophies at World Championships in Umag
While silverware was not the sole preserve of the USA, the Stars and Stripes was the flag most commonly waved within the winners’ enclosure following the ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships in Umag, Croatia.
As was the case 12 months ago, USA were the dominant force in Croatia’s westernmost city, with the nation’s women collecting three accolades and the men contributing two.
USA’s women prevailed in the Women's 65 Kitty Godfree and Women's 70 Althea Gibson Cups after posting resounding 3-0 victories against Germany and Great Britain in the respective finals.
Wendy McColskey and Tina Karwasky ensured USA retained the Kitty Godfree Cup with success in the two singles matches, while Jan Kirkland-Cochran and Lilian Peltz-Petow added further gloss with doubles joy.
It was a similar story in the Althea Gibson Cup as Judy Dixon and Toni Novack chalked up singles wins before Liane Bryson and Brenda Carter overcame Belinda Blackburn and Rosemary J. Wilson in the doubles.
USA also tasted victory in the Women's 85 Team Cup, which was being contested for the first time, as they defeated Argentina 6-1. This clash was contested over five days and across four singles and three doubles matches.
Not to be upstaged, USA’s men topped the podium in the Men's 75 Bitsy Grant and Men's 85 Cups, with the North Americans having to recover from a 1-0 deficit against a plucky Austria in the final of the former.
Victory for Klaus Kreuzhuber against Donald Long had USA sweating before Jimmy Parker levelled matters by overpowering Peter Pokorny. Long and Parker then joined forces to dispatch Pokorny and Richard Salzmann in the doubles.
The Men's 85 Cup was a more sedate affair for the holders as they defeated Germany 3-0 in the final courtesy of singles wins for George McCabe and King van Nostrand and doubles success for McCabe and Joseph Russell.
France were the second most successful nation during the tournament as they progressed to the finals of the Men's 65 Britannia Cup and Women's 75 Queens Cup, defeating Netherlands and USA respectively in the pivotal showdowns.
The victory was particularly poignant for the Renoult brothers, Bruno and Marc, who had contested the World Team Championships on 17 previous occasions without lifting silverware.
This anomaly is given greater prominence given both have been and are extremely prominent on the Seniors circuit and have occupied some lofty rankings – Bruno, for instance, is the current No. 1-ranked player in the Men's 65 age category.
France were the superior force against USA in the Queens Cup also, with Sylvie Galfard-Kirsten and Michele Bichon tasting victory in the singles before Catherine Anderson and Suella Steel replied for USA in the doubles.
The other trophies were secured by Denmark, Chile and Argentina, who prevailed in the Men's 70 Jack Crawford Cup, Men's 80 Gardnar Mulloy Cup and Women's 80 Doris Hart Cup respectively.
As with all Seniors events, however, the winning of trophies is not the sole consideration. There were 132 teams from 30 nations on show in Umag and the sense of camaraderie within the international community was once again prevalent, as was a focus upon heath and fitness and competitors testing themselves against their peers.
For a full breakdown of results from the ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships, click here.