U.S. Wins Seven Titles at ITF Super Seniors World Championships

September 20, 2012 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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For the second consecutive year, the United States has won seven cups at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Super-Seniors World Team Championships. The 2012 event, the 32nd edition of the championships, was held in Umag, Croatia, and consisted of 186 teams from 35 countries competing in 10 age categories from 60 and over to 80 and over.

The U.S. capped off the final day of the championships by winning its third consecutive Queens Cup (Women’s 75 & over), defeating Germany, 2-1. The day before, the U.S. dominated with six championships, including a stellar performance in the Althea Gibson Cup (Women’s 70 & over), where the Americans did not drop a single rubber. In all, the U.S. advanced to the final round of nine cups, with the runner-up showings coming in the Doris Hart Cup (Women’s 80 & over) and Kitty Godfree Cup (Women’s 65 & over). The U.S. also placed fifth in the Jack Crawford Cup (Men’s 70 & over).

The ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships is the most prestigious team event on the ITF Seniors circuit. Since its inception in 1981, the number of competitors taking part in the tournament has increased each year. In 1993, the ITF made the decision to divide the Seniors World Championships into two groups: Seniors (35-55) and Super-Seniors (60-80).

Below is the complete list of U.S. team final results from the 2012 ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships.

Von Cramm Cup-Men’s 60 & over (USA def. France 2-1) – Result: Champion
1. Larry Turville, Naples, Fla., Captain
2. Paul Wulf, Salem, Ore.
3. Tony Dawson, Carmel, Calif.
4. Wesley Jackson, Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Britannia Cup-Men’s 65 & over (USA def. Spain 2-1) – Result: Champion
1. Brian Cheney, Chandler, Ariz.
2. Jim Parker, Santa Fe, N.M.
3. Armistead Neely, Atlanta, Ga., Captain
4. Richard Johnson, Ballwin, Mo.

Bitsy Grant Cup-Men’s 75 & over (USA def. Germany 2-1) – Result: Champion
1. Lester Sack, New Orleans, La.
2. Herman Ahlers, Las Vegas, Nev.
3. Larry Sears, Boston, Mass.
4. James Nelson, Palm Desert, Calif., Captain

Gardnar Mulloy Cup-Men’s 80 & over (USA def. Canada 2-1) – Result: Champion
1. John Powless, Madison, Wis.
2. George McCabe, Oxford, Ohio, Captain
3. Saul Snyder, San Diego, Calif.
4. Joe Russell, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Alice Marble Cup-Women’s 60 & over (USA def. Netherlands 3-0) – Result: Champion
1. Tina Karwasky, Glendale, Calif. 
2. Mary Ginnard, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
3. Martha Downing, Shingle Springs, Calif., Captain
4. Toni Novack, Fort Myers, Fla.

Althea Gibson Cup-Women’s 70 & over (USA def. Australia 3-0) – Result: Champion
1. Donna Fales, Coral Gables, Fla., Captain
2. Cathie Anderson, Del Mar, Calif.
3. Charleen Hillebrand, San Pedro, Calif.
4. Lurline Fujii, Honolulu, Hawaii

Queens’ Cup-Women’s 75 & over (USA def. Germany 2-0) – Result: Champion
1. Dorothy Matthiessen, Pasadena, Calif. 
2. Dori de Vries, Reno, Nev.
3. Lyn Tietz, Oak Brook, Ill.
4. Kathy Langer, Rockwall, Texas, Captain

Doris Hart Cup-Women’s 80 & over (Canada def. USA 2-1) – Result: Runner-up
1. Lucille Kyvallos, Fort Lauderdale, Fla 
2. Doris "Jane" Lutz, Sarasota, Fla., Captain
3. Margaret Canby, San Antonio, Texas
4. Joyce Jones, Bothell, Wash.

Kitty Godfree Cup-Women’s 65 & over (France def. USA 2-1) – Result: Runner-up
1. Brenda Carter, Charleston, S.C.
2. Carol Clay, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
3. Leslie Pixley, Malvern, Pa.
4. Betty Wachob, Panama City, Fla., Captain

Jack Crawford Cup-Men’s 70 & over (USA def. France 2-0) – Result: Fifth place
1. Fred Drilling, Estero, Fla., Captain
2. Allan Carter, Boca Raton, Fla.
3. Rudy Hernando, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
4. Tom Brunkow, Bethesda, Md.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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