Semifinals day saw many of the top seeds progress to today’s finals – 6 of the finals will be between the two top seeds and 9 will feature one or the other – but there were a few upsets too.
Perhaps the biggest upsets came in the M55 as Rodney Martin despatched defending champion Willie Hosey – who was struggling with his movement – and Peter Gilbee took out Freddie Johnson, setting up the only final not to feature one of the top two seeds.
Mexico’s sole representative in the semis, Juan Mendez lost a two game lead and then saved two match balls in the decider against M60 second seed Jeremy Goulding.
There were a number of upsets in the women’s matches – Susan Davis beat second seed Rachel Calver in the W45 to set up an all-Aussie final against Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Lauren Wagner ended home hopes in the W50 as she beat ¾ seed Hope Prockop, Mandy Akin overcame W55 second seed Fiona McLean, Gaye Mitchell beat Faith Sinclair in the W65, Margaret Hunt-Kemp beat Robyn Prentice to make the W70 final, and Joyce Davenport beat Jean Grainger to effectively seal the W75 title.
Jean was the key person to beat in the tournament,“ Davenport said after the win. “She’s a good player, and adjusted pretty well during the match. If she hadn’t adjusted so well I could have gotten through in three, but she got better as the match went on, improving her length and serves. I had some opportunities in the third and fourth, but I couldn’t take them-including a match point. I can have one drink tonight, but probably just one.”
Australia have the most finalists with 9, England are close behind on 8, while Canada have four and South Africa 3.
Hosts USA will be represented in the finals by Patrick Chifunda in the M40.
“It feels very good to reach the final, I’ve worked really hard training for this event,” Chifunda said. “When I played in South Africa two years ago I fell short in the semi-finals, so I was very disappointed. I’m thrilled to reach the finals here near Richmond and on American soil. Words can’t even describe this facility, it’s amazing. Playing on this glass court is a treat-a true joy-and to play in front of my home crowd makes it even better.”
England are guaranteed at least two World Masters titles, with all-English finals slated for the W35, featuring Lauren Briggs and Selina Sinclair, and W60, featuring Jill Campion and Karen Hume. England will also field two other top seeds including defending M45 champion Nick Taylor and defending women’s W70 champion Ann Manley.
M35
[1] LJ Anjema (Ned) 3-0 [5/8] Alejandro Garbi (Esp) 11-6, 11-0, 11-4 (34m)
[2] Alister Walker (Bot) 3-0 [¾] Wael El Hindi (Usa) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (36m)
W35
[1] Lauren Briggs (Eng) 3-0 Margaret Gerety (Usa) 11-5, 11-1, 11-1 (27m)
[2] Selina Sinclair (Eng) 3-0 Reka Burmeister (Eng) 11-8, 11-5, 11-3 (25m)
M40
[1] Liam Kenny (Irl) 3-0 [5/8] Craig Ruane (Rsa) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 (27m)
[¾] Patrick Chifunda (Usa) 3-0 Wai Chung Wong (Hkg) 11-3, 13-11, 11-5 (25m)
W40
[1] Natalie Grainger (Usa) 3-0 [¾] Samantha Herbert (Rsa) 11-4, 11-3, 11-0 (18m)
[2] Melissa Martin (Aus) 3-0 [¾] Jackie Ryder (Rsa) 11-6, 11-2, 11-9 (18m)
M45
[1] Nick Taylor (Eng) 3-0 Galen le Cheminant (Usa) 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 (27m)
[2] Zuko Kubukeli (Rsa) 3-1 [¾] Adrian Hansen (Rsa) 11-7, 5-11, 12-10, 11-7 (46m)
W45
[1] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aus) 3-0 [¾] Karen Meakins (Bar) 11-9, 11-3, 11-2 (15m)
[¾] Susan Davis (Aus) 3-1 [2] Rachel Calver (Eng) 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 12-10 (26m)
M50
[1] Mike Toothill (Rsa) 3-0 Sean Ryan (Aus) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (22m)
[2] Hansi Weins (Ger) 3-0 [¾] David Sly (Can) 11-8, 11-5, 11-3 (17m)
W50
[1] Sarah Nelson (Aus) 3-0 Wendy Andsell (Usa) 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 (17m)
Lauren Wagner (Can) 3-0 [¾] Hope Prockop (Usa) 11-5, 11-9, 15-13 (25m)
M55
[5/8] Brett Martin (Aus) 3-0 [1] Willie Hosey (Irl) 11-9, 11-2, 11-9 (20m)
[¾] Peter Gilbee (Aus) 3-1 [2] Fredrik Johnson (Swe) 13-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8 (33m)
W55
[1] Susan Hillier (Aus) 3-0 [¾] Sue Williams (Aus) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (19m)
[¾] Mandy Akin (Eng) 3-1 [2] Fiona McLean (Sco) 11-6, 10-12, 11-2, 11-9 (26m)
M60
[1] Geoff Davenport (Aus) 3-0 [¾] Pierr Roodt (Rsa) 16-14, 11-7, 13-11 (20m)
Juan Mendez (Mex) 3-2 [2] Jeremy Goulding (Eng) 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 4-11, 12-10 (45m)
W60
[1] Jill Campion (Eng) 3-1 Maureen Duke (Irl) 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (24m)
[2] Karen Hume (Eng) 3-0 Shirley Whitmore (Rsa) 14-12, 11-6, 11-2 (18m)
M65
[1] John Macrury (Cay) 3-0 [¾] Wayne Weatherhead (Can) 11-5, 13-11, 11-5 (22m)
[5/8] Mario Raponi (Can) 3-0 John Carroll (Aus) 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 (19m)
W65
[1] Laura Ramsay (Can) 3-1 Yvonne Trotter (Aus) 11-5, 2-11, 11-1, 11-8 (28m)
[¾] Gaye Mitchell (Aus) 3-0 [2] Faith Sinclair (Sco) 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 (13m)
M70
[1] Brian Cook (Aus) 3-0 [5/8] Aubrey Waddy (Eng) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (18m)
[¾] Ian Ross (Sco) 3-1 [5/8] Frikkie Bester (Rsa) 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6 (31m)
W70
[1] Ann Manley (Eng) 3-1 [¾] Marilyn Kennedy (Aus) 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5 (29m)
Margaret Hunt-Kemp (Rsa) 3-0 [2] Robyn Prentice (Aus) 11-4, 13-11, 11-7 (16m)
M75
[5/8] Howard Armitage (Can) 3-0 [5/8] Michael Gough (Usa) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (20m)
[2] Gerry Poulton (Can) 3-0 [¾] John Nelson (Usa) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (17m)
W75 Round Robin (effective final)
Joyce Davenport 3-1 Jean Grainger 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 13-11 (25m)
M80
[1] Lance Kinder (Eng) 3-2 [¾] Stanley Fanaross (Rsa) 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4
[¾] Edward Burlingame (Usa) 3-1 [2] Barry Gardiner (Nzl) 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9
