The International Tennis Federation (ITF) annually holds the Senior World Team Championships, which is akin to the Davis and Fed Cup for senior tennis players, age 35-55. In 2007, this event will be played at Ali Bey Belek and Ali Bey Manavgat near Antalya, Turkey. The USTA selects four players per team from the USA based on their national play during the previous year. This year six players from the Southern Section have been named to a senior international team.
Mariana Hollman of Winston-Salem, NC has been named to the Young Cup team for women 40 and over. This team will play at Ali Bey Belek. Hollman won the 40 clay courts in 2006 and was a doubles finalist at the 40 clay courts. She recently won the 40 singles at the BallenIsles Category II national in Florida. She was a member of the winning Young Cup team in 2005 in Perth, Australia and in 2006 in Durban, South Africa. She is ranked #1 nationally in 40 singles. Susan Love of Charlotte, NC and Fran Chandler of Jackson, TN have been named to the Margaret Court Cup team for women 45 and over. Chandler has been named the playing captain of that team. Love reached the final of the 45 clay courts and Indoors in 2006 en route to a national ranking of three. This is her first time to be selected to an international team. Chandler was the playing captain of the victorious Court Cup team in 2006 in South Africa. She was half of the doubles team that won the deciding doubles matches against France and Australia to clinch the victory. She was a finalist at the 45 hard courts in 2006 and won the Checket Cup Category II national in February of 2007. She ended 2007 ranked #2 in women’s 45 singles.
Diane Fishburne of Charleston, SC has been named to the 2007 Bueno Cup team. A veteran of 8 cup teams, she will lead the USA Bueno Cup team at the #1 spot. She was hampered by knee surgery in 2006 but placed third at the 45 hard courts and won the Checket Cup Category II over Chandler in 2006 and recently won the BallenIsles Category II national in January in the 50s division. She won the 40 clay courts in 2007. She finished 2006 ranked #6 nationally in 45 singles.
Tom Smith of Alpharetta, GA has been selected to the Fred Perry Cup team for men 50 and over. Smith finished 2007 ranked #1 in 50 doubles both individually and as a team (with Fred Robinson). He won the 50 indoors and was a finalist at the 50 grass and clay courts in doubles. He also placed third at the 50 hard courts in singles. Armistead Neely of Atlanta, GA has been named the playing captain of the Austria Cup for men 55 and over. He was a finalist at the clay courts, losing to top ranked Larry Turville and won the Atlanta Mens’ Senior Category II national over Turville.