By J. Fred Sidhu

La Jolla, Calif. – (May 19, 2012) – Unseeded Erin Boynton of Toronto, Canada, rallied from a set down to defeat fifth-seeded Tracey Thompson of San Diego, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the Women’s 50s singles consolation championship of the USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

 

After losing in the second round of the main draw earlier in the week to fifth-seeded Kathy Vick of Lubbock, Texas in a tough three-setter, Boynton won three straight matches to advance to the consolation semifinals against Thompson, who had lost to eventual runner-up Tracy Houk in the main draw quarterfinals.

 

Boynton, a Canadian-based orthopedic surgeon who was born in Quincy, Ill., committed nine double faults and struggled to find her rhythm in the first set as Thompson jumped to a 5-1 lead and went on to close out the set in 40 minutes.

 

In the second set, the 52-year-old Thompson began to relax and go for more on her serve. “I decided that I just have to relax and I’ve got to play and hit the ball and really go for my serve,” she said.

 

Thompson only double faulted once in the second set and would build leads of 3-1 and 5-2 before serving out the set to level the match at one set all.

 

Boynton, who did not pick up tennis until her mid-30s, clearly had the momentum on her side as she broke Thomson’s serve twice early in the third set to take a 3-0 lead.

 

Later as Boynton served with a 5-2 lead, she had two match points at 40-15, but Thompson fought back to break serve as Boynton double faulted twice. After Thompson held serve, Boynton served for the match at 5-4.

 

Despite losing her third match point, Boynton went on to serve out the match, which took two-hours and one minute.

 

Due to her medical practice and family commitments, Boynton plays a limited tournament schedule during the year, so she welcomed the opportunity to play in the consolation draw to get extra match play after losing in the main draw.

 

“It’s quite an accomplishment for me to come and compete with these ladies and work my way up the ladder. I’ve had an unbelievable week. I’ve learned so much about myself and I’ve learned so much about tennis,” she said. “This would be just the icing on the cake if I could walk away with that (consolation title) tomorrow.”

 

Boynton will face fifth-seeded Vicki Buholz of Dallas, Texas in the Women’s 50s consolation singles final on Sunday.

The 2012 USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships will conclude on Sunday with the women’s singles consolation championships beginning at 10:30 a.m. (PDT), followed by the doubles consolation championships scheduled for 2 p.m. (PDT).

 

The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club’s 40^th Annual Spring Senior Championships for men are also taking place the same week in conjunction with the women’s events. Although the men’s events are not national championships, they will feature many senior players who regularly compete in national tournaments. The men’s events will include singles and doubles for 60 and over, 65 and over, 70 and over, 75 and over and 80 and over age groups. A combined total of over 300 players are participating in the men’s and women’s tournaments.

 

USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships

La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club

La Jolla, Calif.

Surface: Hard Court

Saturday’s Results

Consolation Semifinals

Women’s 50 Singles

Vicki Buholz (5), Dallas, Texas, def.  Anne Lowry, Oakland, 6-1, 6-3

Erin Boynton, Toronto, def.  Tracey Thompson (5), San Diego, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4

Women’s 60 Singles

Fay Matsumoto, Prescott, Ariz., def.  Susan Bramlette (5), Houston, Texas, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2

Chieko Holt (5), Klamath Falls, Ore., def.  Margaret Machoian (5), Annapolis, Md., 6-0, 6-0

 

Women’s 70 Singles

Grace Woo (5), Pittsford, N.Y., def.  Nancy Garcia, Menlo Park, 6-4, 6-4

Dori Devries, Reno, Nev., def.  Sheila Weinstock (5), Framingham, Mass, 6-2, 7-5

Women’s 80 Singles

Beverly Winans, Newport Beach, def.  Joan Melahn, Bull Valley, Ill,

Mary Giebink Del Mar, def. Nancy Kibbey, La Mesa, 6-1 Ret. (inj.)

Women’s 90 Singles

Championship – Round Robin

Lovie Beard, Houston, Texas, def.  Anita Claeboe, Ponte Vedra, Fla., 6-1, 6-4

40th Annual Spring Senior Men’s Championships

La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club

La Jolla, Calif.

Surface: Hard Court

Saturday’s Results

 

Men’s 60 Singles

Championship

William Kellogg (1), La Jolla, def.  Tony Ybarra (2), Ramona, 7-5, 6-3

 

Men’s 75 Singles

Semifinals

Rollin Odell (3), Orinda, def.  Fred Scott (2), Monarch Beach, 6-4, 6-1

James Curry (1), Waco, Texas, def.  Johnny Sanchez (4), San Diego, 6-3, 6-1

Men’s 80 Singles

Championship

Tadashi Yamaguchi, San Diego, def.  Emilio Martinez-De Pison (2), San Diego, 6-2, 6-3

For complete results and tournament draws, go to:

http://tennislink.usta.com/TOURNAMENTS/TournamentHome_New/Tournament.aspx?T=113672