Men’s Senior Nationals round-up

Men’s 45+ Nationals – Winners: Mike Gillespie, Bob Conklin. Finalists: Rob Pierce, Leo Power

Men’s 50+Nationals – Under sunny skies, Scott Bondurant (Winnetka, IL) successfully defended his 50+ National Championship with a new partner, Bill Fiedler (Chicago, IL). Scott had won the two previous years with APTA President Tim McAvoy. Bondurant’s forehand and Fiedler’s blitzing were the difference makers in their two-set win over Fritz Odenbach (Rochester, NY) and Rusty Wright (Pelham, NY). The win for the Illinois duo avenged their loss to the New York players in the 2006 45+ title match. In the first set, Bondurant and Fiedler went up a break but Odenbach and Wright fought back and took it to a tie-breaker. The second set was hard fought but Bondurant and Fiedler kept the foot on the pedal and won 7-6, 6-1.

Men’s 55+ Nationals – Winners: Mike Sullivan, Scott Pecor. Finalists: Tim Mangan, John McMillan

Men’s 60+ Nationals – In the 2011 APTA Men’s 60+ National Championship, defending champions Steve Baird (Purchase, NY) and Scott Estes (Chatham, NJ) faced the unseeded team of John Adams (Newtown Square, PA) and Burke Hayes (Chevy Chase, MD). Burke and Hayes, while unseeded, were not without a pedigree of their own having won the 55+ in 2007. Baird and Estes made their way through the draw fairly easily while Adams and Hayes had two tough three setters prior to the finals. The score of the final, 7-6, 7-5 was illustrative of the saying, “Get the ball back one more time than your opponent.” The match was so close that it was truly a matter of Adams and Hayes getting the ball back one more time than their opponents.

Men’s 65+ Nationals – Winners: Steve Griggs, Mike O’Donnell. Finalists: Scott Estes, Danny Galves

Men’s National 70+ Championships – Roy Anderson and Joe Holmes were looking for double gold when they took on Mike Hanna and Mike O’Donnell in the 2011 APTA Men’s 70+ National Championship at Fox Meadow. Anderson and Holmes had won the 145s two days before and were two-time defending champions in the 70+. O’Donnell was looking for his double gold as well, having taken the 65+ title earlier this year. The sunny skies provided comfort to the spectators who were treated to a great three set match. The first set went to Anderson and Holmes who looked like they would take the title easily. Hanna and O’Donnell turned the momentum around winning the second and third sets in a tense battle. The final score was 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Men’s National 145+ Championships – Anderson-Holmes Clinch National 145+ Title
Once again, the largest draw for men’s seniors National Championships came from the 145s. This year, it was held at The Fox Meadow Club in Scarsdale, New York, where the 17-team draw included participants from nine states ranging in age from 67 to Harry Phillips age 85.

The Saint Patrick’s Day event was completed in one day with several teams having four to five matches. Joe Holmes and Roy Anderson of Darien, Connecticut, added to their 70s title in 2010 with a well played victory over Ray Crosta and George Lynch who upset last year’s winners Bob Brown and Doug Barrow in the semi-finals.

When asked why the tournament was so popular, tournament chair Rich Lombard responded with four simple answers:
1. We have our own mailing list of 80 players who receive a written invite, along with email follow-ups.
2. We encourage single entrants and pair together partnerships (three this year).
3. We keep the draw open to the last minute.
4. We cater to the teams who lose two matches with a round robin.