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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) selected tennis players to represent the United States of America at the 28th International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Team Championships for 2008. This is equivalent to the Senior Davis Cup and Senior Olympics for Tennis. Thirty-eight countries from around the globe participated in the team event which was held October 12-18 in Antalya, Turkey. The USTA selected only 4 players from across the nation to participate on the men’s team as a player and ambassador.
The United States has done quite well in the history of the championships since its inception in 1981, by finishing first or second in 12 of the 19 divisions last year. The ITF Seniors/Super-Seniors World Team Championships is the most coveted team event on the ITF Seniors circuit.
With this being an Olympic year and everything that the Beijing Olympics represent about countries uniting and coming together in competition, it was exciting that I earned the chance to compete the this world event representing the United States of America. I was selected by the USTA as 1 of 4 players to represent the USA in the Men's 35 Division. The player selected were Andy Lake (Captain), Willie Dann, Chris Carey, and Jim Slonac. What an honor and a great opportunity! The USTA and ITF covered the expenses on this international event. With the distance of travel and length of time that it took to go overseas I requested the time off from school teaching.
Packed and ready to go, I boarded the plane with Stacy (my fiancée) on Wednesday, Oct 8 following our work. We traveled from Kansas City through Chicago, onto London, into Istanbul, and finally arrive in Antalya, Turkey on Thursday night. Friday was a practice day. Saturday, Oct 11 at 4:00pm (local time) was the Opening Ceremony, where all teams wore their official team clothing. Sunday, Oct 12 was the Start of Play.
Teams were divided into pools, with the winning teams advancing to the knock-out round throughout the week, concluding with the Finals on Saturday, Oct 18. In the event of bad weather, Sunday Oct 19 was reserved to play the Finals. Teams competed against one another remained on the same tennis court during the day. Play proceeded as follows: The #2 Singles match played first, the #1 Singles match played next, then a Break for Lunch, and the Doubles followed. The winning team had to win 2 of the 3 matches. The court surface was red clay, which requires the player to be more patient and use more angles when hitting, as opposed to the hard courts which we mostly play on here in the United States, which require the player to hit more offensive shots and keep the ball low and flat. There were 60 tennis courts at our venue, Club Ali Bey Manevgat.
Here are the Men's 35's (Italia Cup Division) day-to-day results from the competition, beginning with the 23 teams divided into 6 round-robin pools, with the winners each advancing to the knock-out phase.
Pool Play (Round Robin):
Day 1: USA def. Estonia (3-0); I played the Doubles with Jim Slonac
Day 2: USA def. Great Britain (3-0); I played the Doubles with Jim Slonac
Day 3: USA def. Romania (2-1); I played the #1 Singles.
Pool Winner: USA
Final Round (Knock-out Phase):
Day 4: Argentina def USA (2-1); I did not play today. Argentina moved on to semifinals and will face France, as Czech Republic moves on and will face Germany.
Day 5 (Playoff for 5th and 6th place): Austria def. USA (2-0; Doubles unplayed); I played the #1 Singles; and day off for semi-final teams.
USA Result: 6th Place
Semis and Finals:
Day 6 – Semi-finals: Argentina def. France (2-1), Czech Republic def. Germany (2-1).
Day 7 – Argentina def. Czech Republic (2-0, Doubles unplayed).
Winner: Argentina
The United States has done quite well in the history of the championships since its inception in 1981, by finishing first or second in 12 of the 19 divisions last year. The ITF Seniors/Super-Seniors World Team Championships is the most coveted team event on the ITF Seniors circuit.
With this being an Olympic year and everything that the Beijing Olympics represent about countries uniting and coming together in competition, it was exciting that I earned the chance to compete the this world event representing the United States of America. I was selected by the USTA as 1 of 4 players to represent the USA in the Men's 35 Division. The player selected were Andy Lake (Captain), Willie Dann, Chris Carey, and Jim Slonac. What an honor and a great opportunity! The USTA and ITF covered the expenses on this international event. With the distance of travel and length of time that it took to go overseas I requested the time off from school teaching.
Packed and ready to go, I boarded the plane with Stacy (my fiancée) on Wednesday, Oct 8 following our work. We traveled from Kansas City through Chicago, onto London, into Istanbul, and finally arrive in Antalya, Turkey on Thursday night. Friday was a practice day. Saturday, Oct 11 at 4:00pm (local time) was the Opening Ceremony, where all teams wore their official team clothing. Sunday, Oct 12 was the Start of Play.
Teams were divided into pools, with the winning teams advancing to the knock-out round throughout the week, concluding with the Finals on Saturday, Oct 18. In the event of bad weather, Sunday Oct 19 was reserved to play the Finals. Teams competed against one another remained on the same tennis court during the day. Play proceeded as follows: The #2 Singles match played first, the #1 Singles match played next, then a Break for Lunch, and the Doubles followed. The winning team had to win 2 of the 3 matches. The court surface was red clay, which requires the player to be more patient and use more angles when hitting, as opposed to the hard courts which we mostly play on here in the United States, which require the player to hit more offensive shots and keep the ball low and flat. There were 60 tennis courts at our venue, Club Ali Bey Manevgat.
Here are the Men's 35's (Italia Cup Division) day-to-day results from the competition, beginning with the 23 teams divided into 6 round-robin pools, with the winners each advancing to the knock-out phase.
Pool Play (Round Robin):
Day 1: USA def. Estonia (3-0); I played the Doubles with Jim Slonac
Day 2: USA def. Great Britain (3-0); I played the Doubles with Jim Slonac
Day 3: USA def. Romania (2-1); I played the #1 Singles.
Pool Winner: USA
Final Round (Knock-out Phase):
Day 4: Argentina def USA (2-1); I did not play today. Argentina moved on to semifinals and will face France, as Czech Republic moves on and will face Germany.
Day 5 (Playoff for 5th and 6th place): Austria def. USA (2-0; Doubles unplayed); I played the #1 Singles; and day off for semi-final teams.
USA Result: 6th Place
Semis and Finals:
Day 6 – Semi-finals: Argentina def. France (2-1), Czech Republic def. Germany (2-1).
Day 7 – Argentina def. Czech Republic (2-0, Doubles unplayed).
Winner: Argentina
Now, for the entire USA Senior Davis Cup Final Results (from Carolyn Nichols)
The U.S.A. senior and super senior teams won four titles in Turkey at the ITF Senior and Super Senior World Team Championships, held October 12-18, 2008. The USTA sent 19 teams to Antalya, Turkey to compete in the largest international tennis team competition ever held. The U.S. came home with four championships, and finished in the top three in 14 divisions overall. The U.S. won the women’s 50, 55 and 75 and over age divisions and the men’s 75 and over age division. The U.S. was the finalist in eight divisions: men’s 45, 55, 70, and 80 and women’s 60, 65 and 70 and won the bronze medal in the women’s 45 and men’s 50 and 65 age divisions. In the other age divisions, the U.S.A. finished fourth in the men’s 40s and women’s 35s; fifth in the men’s 60s; sixth in the men’s 35s, and seventh in the women’s 40s.
Next year the seniors, ages 35-55 will be playing April 27-May 2, 2009 in Mallorca, Spain and the super seniors, ages 60-80, will be playing in Perth, Australia November 2-7, 2009.
The U.S.A. senior and super senior teams won four titles in Turkey at the ITF Senior and Super Senior World Team Championships, held October 12-18, 2008. The USTA sent 19 teams to Antalya, Turkey to compete in the largest international tennis team competition ever held. The U.S. came home with four championships, and finished in the top three in 14 divisions overall. The U.S. won the women’s 50, 55 and 75 and over age divisions and the men’s 75 and over age division. The U.S. was the finalist in eight divisions: men’s 45, 55, 70, and 80 and women’s 60, 65 and 70 and won the bronze medal in the women’s 45 and men’s 50 and 65 age divisions. In the other age divisions, the U.S.A. finished fourth in the men’s 40s and women’s 35s; fifth in the men’s 60s; sixth in the men’s 35s, and seventh in the women’s 40s.
Next year the seniors, ages 35-55 will be playing April 27-May 2, 2009 in Mallorca, Spain and the super seniors, ages 60-80, will be playing in Perth, Australia November 2-7, 2009.
Here are some final but important details that led up to this Team World Championships and my tennis:
I always write on the back of my shoes "Rip it up", but for this USA trip I have written "USA." My favorite past player is Ivan Lendl; my favorite current player is Rafael Nadal.
Jim Slonac and I did some great preparation work when we went to Europe this summer 2008 for 6 weeks to train on the red clay and prepare just for this USA team event. And we had a great time with some great adventures and we actually watched the Federer vs. Nadal Wimbledon Final!
Thanks for these people who have most helped me improve my tennis game and enjoy it so much:
Thanks for these people who have most helped me improve my tennis game and enjoy it so much:
Jesus Christ, Stacy, my parents Chuck & Linda, Kendra & Geoff, Kevin, my good friend & coach Ray Lake, Paul Montello, Mike Jordahl, Drew King, Doug Nuenke, Harry Durgin, Jim Slonac, John Powless, Hayden Perez (Univ. of Nebraska Assistant Women's Tennis Coach), Bob Zoller, Tim Reynolds, Phil White, Willie Alumbaugh, Chris Smith, Sam Keeton (Notre Dame), Grant Fleming (UT), Nick McFee, Babolat, KC Racquet Club, The Babolat/KCRC Sunday Doubles League Players, Aaron Marchetti, the Frye Family, Eric Looney (my website), Carlos Acosta, Mark Whiting, my Texas friends and tennis players (Jory Ereckson and Guillaume Gauthier), my Arizona friends and tennis players (Bobby Bull and Jesse Ponwith), Blue Hills Country Club, Kirkland Gates and Drake Vidrine at The Carriage Club, John Shaw, Pete Stroer, and Stuart Waters at Overland Park Racquet Club, Rex Haltain and the Players, The Stephanie Waterman Tennis Foundation, Bob Litwin, Phil Landauer, Mickey Maule, Andy Lake, Willie Dann, Jim Nelson, Glenn Erickson, Craig Pagenkopf, Oak Park High School, Staley High School (Clark Mershon, Principal), and the North Kansas City School District (Superintendent Tom Cummings), the HOA, the MVTA, and the USTA.
Thanks to my Italia Cup Teammates---Jim, Andy, and Willie!
Thanks to my Italia Cup Teammates---Jim, Andy, and Willie!
Go USA!!!
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