On the men’s field, there are so many foreign born players that it would take us a long time to list them all. On the women’s field, and not counting the Canadians, there where only five players in the draw. Ana Brzova and Viki Stoklasova can make history today and become the first foreign born team to ever win the women’s APTA National Championship.
Ana and Viki will face 6-time national champ Mary Doten and Chelsea Nusslock. On their way to the final, the home crowd favorites (Ana works at the Indian Trial Club, Tournament Host) they defeated 2-time defending champs Cindy Prendergast and Lauren Zink in the quarters by 6-3, 6-0. In the semis they had a long match versus Sue Tarzian and Keryth Flinn by 6-7, 6-0, 6-4. Lots of lobs and off pace drives made this match last close to two hours. Other than Flinn’s blitzes or Stoklasova’s occasional top spin drives the match was played at a slow pace.
On the other side of the draw, Doten-Nusslock come from two great back-to-back wins. In the quarters they defeated a team that many thought were the favorites to at least make it to the final, Sandra Birch-Krusos and Kerri Delmonico. Doten-Nusslock won 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 and were now facing Cynthia Dardis and Amy Shay. In the semis they defeated #1 seeds Dardis-Shay by 7-5, 6-1. This was another slow match where Chelsea was pretty much the only players who played at a fast pace looking to drive the ball with both her forehand and backhand.
Can Ana and Viki make history today? Definitely but that will not be an easy task. Nusslock was red-hot yesterday and Doten has six gold medals to prove everyone that she know how to win.
