Locals at Riviera Take USTA Husband-Wife Championship

The USTA National Husband-Wife Combined Age Hardcourt Championships took place at the Riviera Tennis Club from August 4 to 7. Teams played in one of three divisions based on the combined age of the husband-wife duos (100 years, 120 and 140). The beautiful Pacific Palisades weather was a popular topic among the participants, who came in from North Carolina, Texas, Las Vegas and as far away as Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The highlight match of Sunday’s final came in the 100 division, where former Riviera members Debbie and Dave Ryan of Malibu defeated Jennifer and John Lyons of San Clemente, 6-3, 7-5. Both sides displayed an uncanny ability to keep the ball in play, using soft hands and great court-coverage to extend rallies to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd. As a result, no team could hold serve in the first five games, leaving the Ryan’s with a 3-2 advantage that increased to 4-2 after Dave became the match’s first player to hold. Then at 5-3 and 15-15, with John Lyons serving again, an outstanding rally with at least 15 difficult shots ensued, with each duo switching sides on the court multiple times; eventually, Debbie Ryan delivered a strong forehand winner from the right side of the court into the opposing alley to win the point, drawing screams and applause from onlookers to make it 15-30 before taking the first set. The Ryan victory denied the Lyons’ the 2011 USTA Golden Slam, awarded to teams who win every USTA national title (some of which are played on other court surfaces like grass and clay, similar to Grand Slams) in their age division in one calendar year. In the 140 final, Kathy Bennett and Richard Doss of Irvine accomplished that feat by defeating Maria and Ken Girard of Dana Point. With the Golden Slam, Bennett and Doss will receive a trip to New York for the U.S. Open’s Golden Slam presentation. Meanwhile, in the 120 final, Susan and Mas Kimball of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts beat Julie Barash and Arnold Resnick of Aventura, Florida, 6-1, 6-3 to win that title. Other participants included locals Dede and Jerry Swartz, who lost in the first round and in consolation, but enjoyed meeting and watching the other teams.