Steel advances to second round
May 9, 2011
*La Jolla, Calif. — * On a cool, cloudy and breezy day at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, second-seeded Suella Steel of La Jolla advanced to the second round of the 70 and over division of the USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championship with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Jane Pang of Honolulu.
The 69-year-old Steel, who teaches tennis at a nearby club, is playing in her first singles tournament of the year after undergoing knee surgery last year and later suffering from plantar fasciitis in her right foot. “I’m well now, but I’m just getting back into match play,” Steel said following her victory.
Steel, who has won 77 national age-group division tennis titles, admitted to having a few “first-round jitters” as she began her match against Pang. “My opponent was a little bit difficult to play. She drop shots a lot and hits the ball low with under-spin,” Steel said. “I do feel pressure because a lot of my students are here. The expectations are pretty high for me because this has been a good tournament for me in the past.”
On Wednesday, Steel will play her second round match against Ruth Nutt of Santa Fe, N.M., a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Susan Martin of Sarasota, Fla.
In other first-round action on Monday in the women’s 70 and over division, top-seeded Charleen Hillebrand of San Pedro, Calif. defeated Dorcas Miller of Concord, Ma. 6-3, 6-1. In the 39th Annual Spring Senior Championships for men, second-seeded Jerry Singer of Encinitas, Calif. advanced to the quarterfinals of the 70 and over division with a 6-1, 6-1 first-round victory over Darryl Tschirn of La Jolla.
Events offered at this week’s USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championship include both singles and doubles in the 50 and over, 60 and over, 70 and over, 80 and over, and 90 and over age groups.
The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club’s 39th Annual Spring Senior Championships for men is also taking place in conjunction with the women’s event. The men’s events will include singles and doubles for 60 and over, 65 and over, 70 and over, 75 and over, 80 and over, and 85 and over age groups.
Admission to this week-long tournament is free and open to the public with a snack bar and dining facility on-site. On-site parking is available for a nominal fee. Daily matches will start at 8 a.m.
Expected Start of Play:
For complete tournament draws, go here.
Named “Club of the Year” for 2011 by the San Diego District Tennis Association, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club is designated one of the “Top 25 Tennis Resorts” by Tennis Resorts Online. In addition to hosting the USTA National Senior Women’s Hard Court Tennis Championships, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club also hosts the USTA National Men’s & Women’s 40 & Over Hard Courts, and the USTA National Father & Son Hard Court Championships, scheduled for November 28 – December 4, 2011.
The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club has also been home to the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championships since 1942. The Annual Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship is one of the five-oldest tennis events in the world and has a rich tournament history. First held in 1890 at The Hotel Del Monte in Monterey, California, the event was created to promote the sale of real estate on the Monterey peninsula. The original concept pitted the best players from the East versus those from the West. This coast to coast rivalry was the inspiration for the Davis Cup. Past winners of the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship include Jack Kramer, Ted Schroeder, Bobby Riggs, Pancho Segura, Don Budge, Tony Trabert, Stan Smith, Bob Lutz, Arthur Ashe, Dennis Ralston, John McEnroe, and many other world-class champions. This last March, Bradley Klahn and Ryan Thacher of Stanford teamed to capture the 2011 Championship.
The Club also hosted the 2008 Fed Cup, and was also the proud host of the 2006 Davis Cup First Round Tie between the United States and Romania.
About the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Inc. – One of California’s most treasured beachfront resorts for more than 75 years, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated company dedicated to the operation of a 14-acre beachside resort. The resort includes three properties, including the exclusive La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, the 128-room La Jolla Shores Hotel and landmark Marine Room restaurant. Resort amenities include 14 championship tennis courts, a nine-hole Par-3 golf course, two swimming pools, two additional oceanfront restaurants and cocktail lounges, and one of Southern California’s only private beaches. For more information visit ljbtc.com.
Monday, May 9 – RESULTS
Women’s 50 Singles
First Round
Women’s 60 Singles
First Round
Women’s 70 Singles
First Round
Men’s 70 Singles
First Round