Various Authors

DATES: October 8-12, 2023
LOCATION: Capdepera, Mallorca, Spain
DIVISIONS: 65, 70, 75, 80, 85

65S BY Bunnie Jackson

I survived a 16 hour plane trip from home to JFK, then Madrid and eventually the Mallorca airport. And it was all worth it!

Our little island borders the Mediterranean Sea and is surrounded by hills, beaches and a castle. Four to six of us shared a condo across from the main courts. We usually practiced early and either played our matches or went out on an excursion.

I arrived on Thursday so I just hit and tried to loosen up on that day. In the afternoon on Friday we toured Nadal’s Academy and on Saturday, the opening ceremony kicked off our event.

On Sunday the competition started. There were several gorgeous red clay venues. Our team, the Kitty Godfrey Cup, played at Son Bessos the whole week. We beat Sweden 3-0 Sunday morning, with Susan Wright and Carolyn Nichols winning their singles and Carolyn Lane and I taking our doubles. On Monday, using the same lineup, we all won again against Spain, in an afternoon match. Then we had a delicious dinner with Carolyn Lane’s sister and her husband at a quaint little restaurant in town. Tuesday was a day off so we explored a huge Mallorcan outdoor market.

On Wednesday, we started the Championship Rounds, beating Austria 3-0 to put us into the semi finals against France. On Thursday, we won 2-1, to get us into the finals on Friday against Australia. In the Gold Medal Round, Carolyn played flawlessly and won. Susan was up against a former multiple Cup Champion and lost a tough battle. Carolyn and Susan played doubles and lost in a third set tiebreaker. We competed well and got the Silver Medal.

I was momentarily bummed about losing until the Award Ceremony, when I saw the 85’s and 80’s march up for their Medals. Then I realized how fortunate we all are to be participating in such an amazing event, against people from all over the world, in a sport we all love to play. It was an honor to represent the USA. Captain Carolyn took us out to dinner afterwards and all was well. Thanks to Captain Carolyn, Den Mother Susan and the USTA for all of your help.

70S by Tina Karwasky

The women’s 70 team representing the United States consisted of Tina Karwasky, Wendy McColskey, Judy Dixon and Jan Kirkland. We played two round robins having to win the first one to get to the second one. Our first match was against South Africa. We defeated them 3-0 winning two singles and one doubles.

In our second match we played Brazil. McColskey won at 2 singles while Karwasky lost in 3 sets at 1 singles. Dixon and Kirkland won their doubles to clinch the match 2-1 and win our group.

Our third match was against France. McColskey won at 2 singles and Karwasky won at 1 singles. The French team defaulted their doubles to give the US a 3-0 win.

Our fourth match was the team finals against Great Britain. McColskey won at 2 singles and Karwasky won a close match at 1 singles after being down 5-2 in the first set. Great Britain defaulted the doubles due to injury giving the US a 3-0 victory.

The camaraderie and cheering of all the teams was exceptional. We all made friends with a lot of players. The sportsmanship was phenomenal. If you ever get a chance to go to Mallorca you should definitely go. It is a definite destination on anyone’s bucket list!  

75S by Gwenda Ward 

Since this was my first experience on the international team, I was grateful for our captain, Brenda Carter, who was a pro at her duties, along with my other experienced teammates Toni Novack and Liane Bryson. I arrived on October 4th and was met at the airport by my longtime Danish friends Mette and Kim Sorenson, who spent two days with me prior to the start of competition. I scheduled a practice session with Carol Ann Castell on the 5th and the team practiced later that day. Another team practice on the 6th and 7th.  After the captain’s meeting at 2:30 on the 7th, we got our venue assignment Aguait and our draw—as 2nd seeds, we were in round robin pod B, against Argentina, then Brazil and Austria. As the #2 singles player, I played first and won against Diana Garcia Vera 6-1, 6-1. Toni won 6-0, 6-1.  Then Brenda and Liane won 6-1, 6-1. Off to a good start. On Monday, we took on Brazil. I defeated Vera Lucia Pacagnella 6-0, 6-0; Toni won (0,0) and our doubles won (0,2). 

I was told the first few rounds would be relatively easy, but Austria would be a challenge. I won against Austria’s Luise Moser (4,0); Toni defeated Heiderose Toth (0,1) and Brenda and Liane defeated Toth-Stefanofsky (0,4), earning our spot in the semifinals. No one dropped a set and we earned all of 9 team points.  

In the semifinals, we played Finland, a two-member team that beat Great Britain (4th seed) 2-1. I lost to Marja-Liisa Hedman 7-6, 6-4; Toni defeated Tuija Hannukainen (1,3), and our doubles won a nailbiter 7-6 (8), 6-2, earning the team a 2-1 path to the finals. The finals were played at S’entrador, a different facility from our other matches. I was told that each red clay court plays differently, and I would agree with that assessment. I sat out the finals, having suffered a groin pull in the Finland match. Brenda Carter stepped in to play France’s #2 Nicole Hesse Cazaux (the eventual winner of the World’s Individual Championship the following week) and lost (2,0). Toni lost to Gail Benedetti (4,4), but our doubles team won handily (2,1). Of course, we were disappointed not to bring home the gold, but France was extremely strong, and silver is an accomplishment to celebrate.

Closing ceremonies were better organized than opening ceremonies. Teams got their medals; national anthems were played for first place, and everyone cheered on their newfound or renewed friends as we all applauded the effort and sportsmanship exhibited on and off the courts. Unfortunately, some of us contracted the stomach virus going around or Covid. I won’t report on the particulars of who and when—that is their story to tell—but for me, I played through my first bout with covid. Was diagnosed positive on Tuesday of the second week, went on to win two singles matches and three doubles with Carol Ann Castell but lost in the finals of doubles to Brenda Carter and Liane Bryson on a gale force winds day. They played exceptionally well, and I congratulate them on their world championship win.

My takeaways from the team competition: Brenda Carter is an excellent captain. I like the team concept. Supporting each other during team matches fosters friendships and enduring concern for others. I am immensely grateful to the USTA for supporting our teams at the ITF Worlds Master Tour Team Championships 65-90. Tennis is a great sport for camaraderie and good will among people from other nations.

80S by Donna Fales 

I had the honor of being the Captain of the U.S. Doris Hart Cup Team (women’s 80) with players Cathie Anderson, Frances Dickenson and Charleen Hillebrand. Frances was making her debut in the ITF Master International Team competition. Cathie, Charleen and I are veterans of the competition.

The weather in Mallorca was ideal and the setting was picturesque. There were nine nations competing in the Doris Hart Cup held at the Beach Club Font de Sa Cala. The format was round robin play with three teams in each of the robins. The U.S. team was seeded one, Great Britain number two and France number three. Germany lost its seeded position when Heide Orth contracted Covid and was unable to play. Germany and Australia were in the American’s robin. We played Germany first with number two singles player Cathie Anderson leading off. Cathie defeatied Monika Ullerich 7-6(4), 6-4 in a tense, closely played match. Both players used similar tactics with well timed drop shots, drives and lobs. I played Christel Knapp in the number one singles. I was off to a quick start winning the first set 6-2. Well directed drives did not let Knapp play her game, winning the second set 6-2. Frances and Charleen won the doubles 6-2,6-3 by playing good doubles utilizing all of the court with well placed volleys and good lobs.  Final tie score was 3-0.  

The second round against Australia was equally successful. Cathie defeated June Simpson 6-2,6-3. Cathie’s drop shot was lethal, no surprise there; she mixed up the drops with the lobs relentlessly. I defeated experienced Helen Muir 6-0,6-0, not missing many balls. Helen is always a pleasure to play against with her classic style and court sense. Frances and I teamed up well to win the doubles against Muir and Simpson 6-1,6-0. Another 3-0 tie score for the U.S.

We had a day off while Australia and Germany played. Germany won advancing to the number two position. Meanwhile several of us visited the Nadal Academy which is quite a complex and well worth seeing. The surprise was the number of Padel courts and instruction. There is a very nice hotel on site with two excellent restaurants. Lunch was delicious and it was nice to see a little bit of the island.

The other seeds progressed to the final round so the U.S. was in the final robin with France and Great Britain. Each of the final robins were determined by the team’s finish in the first robins. Points are awarded for each tie so there is a 1-9 finish. We played Great Britain first. Cathie defeated Jenny Waggott 6-1,3-6, 12-10 in the match tie breaker. Both players fought hard and each had a match point before Cathie prevailed. Her victory was a welcome relief for me. I defeated Britain’s number one, Frances Maclennan 6-4,6-3. The drop shot won the day as Frances was making a comeback from 5-1 down in the second set. The British doubles team of Maclennan and Waggott out played the Americans, Fales and Dickenson, winning in straight sets. 6-0,6-3.   Hence the final tie score was 2-1.

Our final match was against France with Cathie playing Mary Jane Marty in the lead off singles. The first few games were well contested with both players having several game points. Marty won more than Cathie, gaining a lead to give her the first set 6-2. The French woman moved well and retrieved many of Cathie’s shots that looked like winners. Marty won the second set 6-3. I played Michele Bichon in the number one singles. Michele had the edge in consistency and movement winning the first set 6-3. I was down 5-2 before winning two games with two ads for 5 all. However, Michele held on and closed out the set 6-4. Frances and I won the doubles against Marty and Claudine Contoz 6-2,3-1 ret. Marty hurt her leg on the fence chasing a very deep lob and was forced to retire. Tie score was 2-1. The next day France defeated Great Britain winning both singles, Frederique Gaillard defeated Jenny Waggott 6-3-7-6(5) giving France a 1-0 lead. Michele Bichon defeated Frances Maclennan 7-6(5), 6-2. The French chose not to play the doubles so the final score of the tie was 2-1.  

The French team won the gold medal, the U.S. took second, Great Britain was third and Argentina was fourth. It was a wonderful week of tennis with perfect weather and the camaraderie of many old friends and new friends. The ITF Team Championships is a unique opportunity to participate in team play representing your country. What an honor it was for all of us to play on the Doris Hart Cup Team for the United States.

85S by Dorothy Wasser

Opening ceremonies were held in Mallorca, Spain on  Saturday October 7 where the countries were introduced. Each country had flag bearers with 2 players carrying the flag. Chris Smith was chosen to be one of the flag bearers for the USA. On Sunday the matches began with Roz King, Chris Smith, Sheila Palmer and Dorothy Wasser playing against Argentina. Roz and Chris played singles and Dorothy and Sheila played the doubles. All matches were won by the US in straight sets. Our next opponent was the team from Great Britain. Roz and Dorothy played singles and Chris and Sheila played the doubles line. Again we won without dropping a set. There were supposed to be 4 teams but Ukraine withdrew so we were reduced to 3 teams in a round robin format.

There were many days when we were not scheduled to play so we took some side trips. We went to the Nadal Academy which was quite impressive and to a town called Atra with a very nice market where various wares and food was sold. We found a lovely restaurant to have lunch outside in a vine covered backyard since the weather was perfect for al fresco dining. There was also a cute little mini train which we rode for a tour around the coast. Whenever  we could, we went to some of the other venues to cheer on the other USA players. We managed to get in some team practice since we did come to play tennis. Our hotel was right on the beach with great views of the sea and an easy walk to the main venue, the Beach Club hotel. Closing ceremonies were held on Friday where we all got our gold medals as the Star Spangled Banner was playing. We all thoroughly enjoyed this experience and felt honored to have been chosen to represent our country.               

RESULTS of Individual Tournament→

🏆 W65

SINGLES: Carolyn Nichols, Susan Wright - bronze
DOUBLES: Susan Wright - gold, Carolyn Nichols/Bunnie Jackson - silver

🏆 W70

SINGLES: Tina Karwasky - silver
DOUBLES: Ann Staley - bronze

🏆 W75

SINGLES: Toni Novak, Brenda Carter - bronze
DOUBLES: Lianne Bryson / Brenda Carter - gold
Carolann Castell / Gwenda Ward - silver

🏆 W80

SINGLES, DOUBLES, MIXED: 3 golds for Donna Fales
MIXED DOUBLES: Cathie Anderson - bronze in MXD

🏆 W85

SINGLES: Roz King
DOUBLES: Roz King / Dorothy Wasser - gold
Sheila Palmer / Chris Smith - silver
MIXED DOUBLES: Sheila Palmer - gold, Roz King - bronze

PHOTO CREDIT: CAROLYN NICHOLS