USCTA Most Improved Junior - Caroline Lippincott with Jim Wharton. photo by Michael Do US Junior Nationals. Gabe Kinzler, Charles Bostwick and Rich Smith. photo by Jane Lippincott US Junior Nationals. Gabe Kinzler, Charles Dylan Ward and Rich Smith. photo by Jane Lippincott George Handy Alex Handy bye 2008-2009 Annual Report US Junior Nationals. Gabe Kinzler, George Handy and Rich Smith. photo by Jane Lippincott US Parent & Child - Div. A Beth Winthrop Pat Winthrop bye Chris Ward Dylan Ward Alec Monaghan Paul Monaghan Howard McMorris Gordon McMorris bye Peter Rohr Peter Rohr Baird Standish Will Standish US Parent & Child - Div. B Peter Rohr Sam Rohr Chris Ward Laurenson Ward Peter Rohr Ben Rohr Freedley Hunsicker Jesse Hunsicker bye Alec Monaghan Paul Monaghan Winthrops Monaghans 6/2,6/2 McMorrises Rohrs 6/3,6/5 Handys Rohrs Rohrs 6/3,6/4 Monaghans Winthrops 6/1,6/1 McMorrises 6/0,6/1 Racquet Club/Philadelphia - December 19-21, 2008 Rohrs default Monagahans 6/2,6/3 Racquet Club/Philadelphia - December 19-21, 2008 Winthrops 6/2,6/5 Monaghans 6/2,6/1 Page 49
USCTA 2009 Ladies’ World Championship By Jane Lippincott Rainy, cool weather did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the 24 players who gathered in Newport for the 2009 Ladies’ World Championships presented by Roberto Coin. A biennial event, the tournament attracts players from around the world to determine, via a single elimination draw, the World Champion for singles and doubles. Rotating between Australia, France, the UK and the United States, the tournament was last held in US in 2001. No stranger to hosting World Championships, having hosted the Ladies’ in 1995 and the 2004 Men’s World Championship, the National Tennis Club put its best foot forward and hosted a spectacular event! Ranging in age from 14 to “I won’t admit,” the women arrived in Newport for a week of <strong>tennis</strong> and socializing. First to arrive was Charlotte Cornwallis, the current World Champion and number 1 seed. Cornwallis, a professional, having just completed the Grand Slam by winning the Ladies’ British Open, arrived looking for her fourth World Championship title. To do so, though, she would have to get by potential challengers including the up-andcoming #2 seed, Cambridge University’s Karen Hird, the experienced veteran and #3 seed, Freddy Adam and Australia’s determined #4 seed, Amy Hayball. In addition, to the seeds, there were 16 others waiting for their chance to break into the top four! The tournament kicked off with an informal handicap Players and Spectators at the 2009 Ladies’ World Championship. photo by Michael Do Page 50 singles tournament on Monday. This allowed everyone to get used to the <strong>court</strong> while playing some friendly, competitive matches. After a full day of play, Sara Lacombe beat fellow Washingtonian, Pat Homer, in the final. On Tuesday, the action officially got underway. While there were a few minor hiccups along the way, the week belonged to Cornwallis and Hird. Cornwallis reached the final losing only two games along the way! Hird breezed through her half, but came up against some stiff competition from Adam in the semifinal. For US observers, the match was reminiscent of a match earlier in the season at the US Open. Adam, down one set and losing in the second, pulled herself together to win in three sets. For a few games, it looked like Adam was going to repeat this feat. Hird, probably remembering the match, focused and beat Adam in straight sets. Thus, the final showdown was set between Cornwallis and Hird. The final was played on Saturday before a packed house. Coming out of the gate, both players appeared to be nervous – missing openings and hitting balls up on the penthouse. The first game was tight – going to deuce, but Cornwallis seemed to settle down and ran way with a decisive first set 6/1. Hird, playing in her first World Championship final, could not find her rhythm from previous rounds and seemed flat. Nerves probably contributed to her sluggish start. The second set was a different story, with Hird com-
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