By McCarton Ackerman, USTA.com
Team USA made its presence known at the ITF Seniors World Individual Championships, held from June 25-July 2 in Helsinki, Finland. American players won in three divisions and finished runner-up in two other categories.
In the Men’s 55 doubles final, the all-American team of Mike Fedderly and Mike Tammen defeated Jacques Hervet of France and Paul N. Smith of New Zealand, 6-0, 6-4.
The U.S. shined in the 60-and-over divisions. Sherri Bronson of the U.S. and Patricia Medrado of Brazil prevailed in the Women’s 60 doubles final over the all-American team of Tina Karwasky and Wendy McColskey, 6-2, 6-4. Karwasky returned to win the Mixed 60 doubles final with fellow American Ross Persons, defeating South Africans Karin Boshoff and Stephen Bryant, 6-4, 6-3. In the Women’s 60 singles event, American Carolyn Nichols reached the final before losing to Medrado, 6-0, 6-2.
The all-U.S. team of Vicki V. Buholz and Susan Wright also advanced to the championship match in the Women’s 55 doubles event, where they lost a competitive final to Australians Ros Balodis and Leanne Swaysland, 7-5, 6-2.
The ITF Seniors World Team Championships took place in Helsinki immediately prior to the ITF Seniors World Individual Championships, from June 19-24. At the team event, Team USA competed in six events, winning one, reaching finals in two others and placing all six of its squads in the Top 4.