by John Lumley
The Racquet Club of Philadelphia was excited to host the U.S. 60s & 70s Singles and Doubles Championships this year.
Peter Hill had a straightforward route to the U.S. 60s singles final, where he met an in-form Steve Hufford. Hufford, who had been moving great all weekend, kept it going with some great length creating tough chases for Hill. Hill, who loves a ball in the air, managed to grab a few key games, but it was Hufford who took home the gold USCTA medal 6-2 6-3.
Peter Hill & Mark Philpott had an excellent 60s semifinal against Greg Van Schaack & Peter Clement. The second set went to five-all, with Van Schaack and Clement playing a steady game while their partners stepped up with some terrific volleys. In the end, Hill & Philpott locked in a spot in the final 6-0, 6-5. On the bottom half of the draw, John Iole & John Schellenberg had a good win over Thad Gray & Baird Standish 6-5, 6-2 to face Peter Vogt & Steve Hufford in the other semifinal. Vogt & Hufford were too strong and won the match 6-3, 6-0. With the crowds growing for the tournament’s final game, Vogt & Hufford came out strong, taking the first set 6-3. Hill & Philpott changing some tactics and playing more aggressively, grabbed the second set to tie it up at one set all. Games went back & forth to find the match locked at five games-all in the final set. Both teams were playing well and taking chances, but in the end, Vogt & Hufford took the title 6-3 4-6 6-5. Congrats to all players on a great match.
In the 70s singles, Greg Van Schaack looked like the man to beat after a solid few matches, only dropping five games to get to the final. In the bottom half of the draw, John Schellenberg made a great run, beating Arthur Horowitz 6-4 6-2 and taking Jamie Whitall in an exciting match 0-6 6-3 6-2 to find himself in the final. In the final, Van Schaack applied lots of pressure with great length. Schellenberg had a few great serves to get to two games-all in the first set before Van Schaack put his foot down and secured the title 6-2 6-0. Very well played by Greg Van Schaack, who was flawless all weekend in the 70s.
Greg Van Schaack & Peter Clement were in great form in the doubles, only dropping one game all weekend. They beat the Washington team of Arthur Horowitz & Bernard Elero in the semifinal. They then faced John Schellenberg & Jamie Whitall & won 6-1 6-0 to take the title. It was a great weekend of court tennis and many players from different clubs participated.
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US 60s Singles -Hill, Bolling, Hufford
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US 70s Singles - Schellenberg, Lumley Van Schaack
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US 70s Doubles - Clement, Van Schaack, Bolling, Schellenberg, Whitall
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US 60s Doubles - Philpott, Hill, Bolling, Hufford & Vogt
