Top Seeds Easily Advance at USTA National Senior Women's Tennis Championships in La Jolla

On a day marked by unseasonably warm weather and temperatures hovering in the low 90s, the top seeds made short work of their opponents to easily advance to the quarterfinals of the USTA National Senior Women's Hard Court Championships.

On a bright, sunny morning at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, top-seeded Ros Nideffer of San Diego (Rancho Bernardo) began her quest for the 50 and over title on a strong note as the former touring tennis professional eliminated unseeded Christy Foreman of Goleta, Calif., 6-1, 6-2, in one hour and five minutes.

Nideffer is a former two-time Wimbledon singles quarterfinalist. She captured two French Open doubles titles and scored tournament victories over players such as Billie Jean King, Tracy Austin, Monica Seles and Gabriela Sabatini before retiring from the women’s professional tennis tour in 1997.

After suffering a herniated disc in her neck earlier this year, Nideffer, who won the 50 and over title in 2012, began playing tennis again about three weeks ago after taking a break for almost three months. She is using this week’s tournament as an incentive to get back in playing shape.  
    
“I’m happy to be back. I feel I’m playing well. If I can just play my own game, I should be okay,” Nideffer said following her opening round victory. “After not having played many matches and not playing for a little while, it’s going to be a challenge.”
    
Nideffer will face unseeded Colleen Clery Ferrell of San Diego in a quarterfinal match scheduled for 9:30 a.m. (PDT) on Wednesday. Clery Ferrell ousted fifth-seeded Tai Sisson of San Dimas, Calif., 6-2, 0-6, 6-1, in the second round.
    
In other second-round action in the 50 and over division, defending champion and second seed Tracy Houk of Montara, Calif., scored a convincing 6-0, 6-2, victory over Gail Warden of Sherborn, Mass., while third-seeded Frances Chandler of Jackson, Tenn., blanked Marika Lindholm of Germantown, N.Y., 6-0, 6-0, in 54 minutes.
    
The first championship match of the tournament took place as 90-year-old Joyce Vanderpol of Blaine, Wash., used a steady baseline game to defeat 92-year-old Helene Salvetat of Paris, France, 6-0, 6-0, in the 90 and over singles final.
    
In the women’s 60 and over division, two-time defending singles champion Tina Karwasky of Glendale, Calif., advanced to the quarterfinals with an impressive 6-0, 6-0, second-round victory over Fay Matsumoto of Prescott, Ariz.     
    
For complete draws, schedule and results for each age division, please go to:  http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=138251
    
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club welcomes tennis enthusiasts to view the tournament with free admission. On-site parking is available for a nominal fee. 
    
The championship singles and doubles final in each women’s division will be played on Friday, May 16. Consolation events will be played through the conclusion of the tournament on Sunday, May 18. 
    
The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club’s 42nd Annual Spring Senior Championships for men will be played concurrently with the women’s events. Although the men’s events are not national championships, they will feature many senior players who regularly compete in national tournaments. 

The men’s events will include singles and doubles for 60 and over, 65 and over, 70 and over, 75 and over as well as singles events in the 80 and over, and 85 and over age groups. Total participation for both the men’s and women’s tournaments is expected to be 300-plus players.

Scheduled start of play: 
Women
Wednesday: 80, 90 Doubles  

Men
Wednesday:  60 Singles / 65 Doubles
Thursday: 75, 80, 85 Singles/75 Doubles
Friday: 60 Doubles
                            
The starting times for each day of the tournament will be as follows: Wednesday, May 14 through Friday, May 16 – 8 a.m.; Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 – 9 a.m. 

—La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club