Fales, Florida Players Win 9 Titles at ITF Super-Senior Indiv. Tennis Championships

Donna Fales

Five Florida players won a combined nine singles and doubles titles at the end of October at the 37th International Tennis Federation Super-Seniors World Individual Championships, held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

The individual titles came after the U.S. dominated in the ITF team competitions.

Coral Gables’ Donna Fales came away with the largest haul, winning the 75-and-over women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The 77-year-old beat her doubles partner, Heide Orth of Germany, in the women’s final. In the mixed doubles final she teamed with Fred Drilling of Estero, Fla., for the title.

It was the first time Fales competed against her partner Orth in a tournament in 19 years. Fales entered the event with two previous world championship titles to her credit.

“I was both surprised and thrilled to win the worlds’ 75 singles,” Fales said. “My expectation was to play the worlds and hopefully to not play a highly-seeded player early.  Fortunately the ITF gave me a seeding exemption and placed me at No. 2 behind Heide Orth. I was a bit lucky in the final with Heide as she raced to a 5-1 lead in the first set. I was down 2-0 in the third set and then won five consecutive games to lead 5-2. I closed out the set at 6-3. It was a surreal moment for me. My partners in the doubles were awesome — Heide Orth in the women’s doubles and Fred Drilling in the mixed. Both events were fun with good matches. Regarding playing three divisions, I have discovered that the more you do, the more you can do.”

Drilling was a two-time title winner along with Vero Beach’s King Van Nostrand. Drilling in addition to taking the mixed with Fales won the men’s 75-and-over title with American partner Michael Stewart. The 83-year-old Van Nostrand did not let his four knee replacements hinder him in winning the 80-and-over singles, his 12th world singles title, and the doubles with Australian partner Peter Froelich.

Other Florida-resident winners were Panama City’s Betty Wachob in the women’s 70-and-over with American partner Brenda Carter, and Palm Beach Gardens’ Dorothy Wasser in the women’s 80-and-over with Canadian partner Inge Weber.

Additional American winners were Roz King (women’s 80s singles), part-time Sarasota resident George McCabe (men’s 85s singles and doubles with U.S. partner John Powless), Daniel Grossman (men’s 65 singles), and Richard Johnson with fellow American Jimmy Parker in the men’s 70s doubles.

The ITF Super-Seniors World Individual Championships is the highest-ranked event on the ITF Seniors Circuit for male and female players in the age categories of 65-85 (previously 60-85).

For additional tournament info go to www.itftennis.com/seniors/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100039960.