The veterans tennis World Championships began on Monday June 8 at La Baule, France. The British ladies team remained unchanged from last year, their number one being Rye tennis ace Frances Candy.
The first two days were a round-robin competition with each match consisting of three rubbers: two singles games and one doubles. GB’s opponents in this section were Turkey and South Africa who were quickly disposed off with Candy, herself, winning her singles in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 against both countries.
This put them straight into the semi finals which were played on Thursday June 11 and they now faced sterner opposition against a powerful French team. First up was GB no.2 Sally Freeman who fought bravely against Benedicte Legrand but was defeated 2-6, 3-6. Candy then played the French no.1 Caroline Glaszmann and won the first set 6-3. Glazman recovered in the second set and narrowly took it 5-7. Things were looking grim for the British, with the first rubber already lost, Candy had to win if GB was to stay in the competition. Fortunately, she recovered in the final set and took it 6-2 to win the rubber.
With the match now finely balanced at one rubber each, all now rested on the doubles. Sally Freeman and Pauline Fisher took to the court and went down 3-6 in the first set. Undeterred, however, they turned the tables in the second set, taking it 6-3. All now rested on the final set. This was hard fought with a lot at stake for both teams. The score reached 5-5 with the British pair serving. They held their serve, 6-5. The French were now serving to stay in the match. At the critical moment a few mistakes were made and GB took the game and therefore the set, 7-5, which gave them the match.
For the second year running, the British women have made it to the final and will meet the USA who won their semi final against Switzerland and thus setting up a repeat of last year’s final which Britain won. Can they do it again this year? “The Americans always have great strength in depth”, says Candy “and they are very difficult to beat. But we have a motivated team and, personally, I’m fit, strong and have made improvements to my game since last year. We’re ready to give it all we have got and hopefully that will be good enough to retain our title”
The final is due to be played on Saturday and we will report on the result and the fortunes of the Rye Tennis Club head coach next week.
Photo courtesy of ITF