2007 DAVENPORT & COMPANY CITY OF RICHMOND 
TENNIS TOURNAMENT 

May 17 Results
Next:  Friday Results

Natalie Kretzer, a walk-on player, alternates between  #5 and  #6  for Virginia Tech.

5/18/07: Kirsten Elim, at age 39, might have been handed an "upset" by seeding standards on Thursday night, but anyone watching her play at the City tournament would have been inspired by her fighting spirit.

Common knowledge goes that, as women get older, it can be a bit harder to keep up with the legs and energy of a 15 year old.  On the other hand, unless a 15 year old boy is destined to be Pete Sampras, he isn't likely to beat a man in his prime tennis years.  (And no, it's not fair.) So, let's all stand up and cheer for Kirsten Elim and Joy Fuhr, who said 'let's go for it" and who took on the college girls!

Elim, the 1994 City Singles Champion, currently plays on a USTA 5.0 league team with Julie Kaczmarek, Bridget Reichert, and Shannon Eckenrode.  Each of those players have won the City Tournament at one time or another.  It's no surprise then, that the team is undefeated so far this season, and in fact, hasn't even dropped a set.

Natalie Kretzer, who handed Elim a 6-1, 6-2 loss on Thursday night, was a walk-on player at VA Tech.  Over the past two years, she's steadily worked on her game at school, while entering in many of the Richmond local tournaments.  This girl is motivated, and good, so look for her to be a fixture on the leader lists for years to come.

Joy Fuhr is a former touring pro who now has the joy of being able to watch her daughter as she improves in her own tennis game. Anna, a 12 year old who trains at Raintree, is currently ranked 19th in the Mid-Atlantic in her age group.  

In Thursday's semi-final, Fuhr took on Bridget Reichert, who as Bridget Bruner was City Champion in 2000.  That year, her opponent in the final was:  Joy Fuhr.  Unfortunately, the scores from that match weren't readily available, but in Richmond there is always a sense of pervasive deja vu, isn't there? 

Reichert also won the title in 2001 over finalist Rachel Gale.  Gale, who has been a fixture in the City Tournament since claiming her first title in 1993, is noticeably absent this year.  So, I went to ask her about it.

"I have been getting a lot of people asking me why I'm not playing," she said.  "We do have our Deck Opening at Westwood on Friday night, and that is part of my reason for not playing.
(Rachel is Activities Director at the Westwood Club.)

"Mostly though, my main reason is that I won all three events in the City Tournament in 1993. [Women's Singles, Women's Doubles and Mixed].  My father passed away that year, before the tournament, after I told him I was playing for him that summer. 

"In 2003, when I was 34, I won all three events, and last year, I was fortunate enough to do the same.  I've been doing a lot of thinking about my tennis career here in Richmond, and I thought - what a great way to honor my dad - than to leave it at that."

<<Clint Green & Sears Driscoll.  Clint, who has played in the City Tournament in previous years, is dealing with recurrent tennis elbow issues. Sears is set to play in the Men's Doubles Final on Saturday

Results May 18

Women's Singles Semifinals:  Natalie Kretzer d. Kirsten Elim 6-1, 6-2; Bridget Reichert d. Joy Fuhr 6-3, 6-1. 

Men's Doubles Semifinals:  Butterworth/Snead d. Hensley/Petersson 6-1, 6-2; Driscoll/Einwick d. Campbell/Reichert 6-4, 7-6(5).

by Sara James