United States Captures Three Titles at ITF 75-, 80-, and 85-and-Over World Team Championships

American teams won three of the six titles at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 75-, 80-, 85-and-over World Team Championships on the red clay courts in Bol, Croatia, which saw a total of 70 teams – representing 23 nations from around the globe.

The tournament is the super-senior equivalent of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup competitions, where top American tennis players represent their country in the 75-, 80-, 85-and-over age groups.

This year’s teams took home titles in the Gardner Mulloy Cup (men’s 80 & over), Queens Cup (women’s 75 & over), and Angela Mortimer Cup (women’s 85 & over).  The U.S. continued its recent domination in some of the age divisions: This was the fourth consecutive year the American teams brought home the Gardner Mulloy Cup, and they’ve won all five Angela Mortimer Cups.The United States also won the Queens Cup for the first time since 2017.

Photo credit: ITF

American athletes are continuing to prove that tennis is the sport for a lifetime, by snagging a total of seven titles from the recently-concluded International Tennis Federation (ITF) 75-, 80-, 85-and-over World Individual Championships.

Donna Fales of Coral Gables, Fla., led the American effort in the championships as she claimed the trifecta by winning the 85+ singles and doubles (w/ Angela Mortimer Cup teammate Roz King) titles and 80+ mixed title (w/ Fred Drilling).  Naples’ own Fred Drilling also took home a men’s doubles title with Gardner Mulloy teammate Jimmy Parker.  Gwenda Ward nabbed a mixed doubles title in the 75+ category and finished runner-up in the singles.  Also bringing home titles were Brian Cheney & David Fish (men’s 75+ doubles); Susan Kimball & Betty Wachob (women’s 80+ doubles).

Photo credit: ITF

Below is a list of players representing the United States in each division with results:

Bitsy Grant Cup - Men's 75 & over - Result: 4th Place (Canada def. USA 2-1)

1. Michael Beautyman, Lake Worth, Fla.

2. Brian A. Cheney, Chandler, Ariz., Captain

3. David Fish, Newton, Mass.

4. Marc Mazo, Clearwater, Fla.

Gardner Mulloy Cup - Men's 80 & over - Result: CHAMPION (USA def. France 2-1)

1. Fred Drilling, Naples, Fla., Captain

2. David Dollins, Escondido, Calif.

3. Jimmy Parker, Santa Fe, N.M.

4. Jody Rush, Tumwater, Wash.

Lorne Main Cup - Men's 85 & over - Result: 3rd Place (Germany def. USA 2-1)

1. Jerald B. Hayes, Carmel, Ind.

2. Wilbur Jones, Shawnee, Kan.

3. Donald Mathias, Winchester, Va.

4. Robert Quall, Merced, Calif., Captain

Queens Cup - Women's 75 & over - Result: CHAMPION (USA wins round-robin)

1. Liane Bryson, San Diego

2. Judy Dixon, Amherst, Mass., Captain

3. Toni Novack, Naples, Fla.

4. Gwenda Ward, Ocala, Fla.

Doris Hart Cup - Women's 80 & over - Result: 2nd Place (France def. USA 2-1)

1. Carolann Castell, Kirkland, Calif.

2. Susan Kimball, Oak Bluffs, Mass., Captain

3. Andrea Polisky, Palm Desert, Calif.
4. Betty Wachob, Panama Beach, Fla.

Angela Mortimer Cup - Women's 85 & over - Result: CHAMPION (USA wins round-robin)

1. Susanne Clark, New City, N.Y.

2. Donna Fales, Coral Gables, Fla.

3. Roz King, San Diego

4. Dorothy Wasser, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Captain

Results below:

Men’s 75 Doubles: Brian Cheney & David Fish (USA) def. Chris Burr & Tim Griffin (CAN) 6-2, 6-4

Women’s 75+ Singles: Marjory Love (GBR) def. Gwenda Ward (USA) 6-2, 6-1

Women’s 75+ Doubles: Marjory Love & Christine Windmill (GBR) def. Liane Bryson & Ann Stanley (USA) 6-2, 6-4

Mixed 75+ Doubles: Gwenda Ward (USA) & Bruno Renoult (FRA) def. Liane Bryson (USA) & Petr Kolack (SUI) 6-2, 6-1

Men’s 80+ Singles: Antonio Claudi (ITA) def. Jimmy Parker (USA) def. 6-3, 7-6(7), [10-5]

Men’s 80+ Doubles: Fred Drilling & Jimmy Parker (USA) def.Herbert Chee & Alan Walsh (AUS)6-1, 6-0

Women’s 80+ Doubles: Susan Kimball & Betty Wachob (USA) def. Carolann Castell (USA) & Telsche Andree (GER) 6-3, 6-2

Mixed 80+ Doubles: Donna Fales & Fred Drilling (USA) def. Phyllis Bentham (GBR) & Pedro Castano (ESP) 7-5, 6-3

Women’s 85+ Singles: Donna Fales (USA) def. Dora Romero (ARG) 6-1, 6-2

Women’s 85+ Doubles: Donna Fales & Roz King (USA) def. Irmgard Gerlatzka & Liselotte Mueller (GER) 6-3, 6-2

Men’s 90+ Doubles: Herbert Althaus & Werner Marx (GER) won the round robin over the teams of: Chuck Nelson (USA) & Viggo Holm (DEN) and Wolfgang Harms & Arthur Lind (USA)

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Courtesy of USTA. Top photo credit: ITF