The 2019 USTA Florida Mixed 40 & Over 6.0/8.0 Sectional Championships concluded on Monday as two squads earned divisional titles. Duval (Fleming Island Plantation) took home the crown in the 6.0 competition while Sarasota (Longboat Key Tennis Center) came through on the 8.0 side.

For the 6.0 championship dual, all three courts ended in straight sets, with Duval (Fleming Island Plantation) coming out on top against Alachua (Westside Park – Gainesville) by a final score line of 2-1. Nathan Wycoff and Kannika Torres claimed line one for Alachua 6-4, 6-0, but Duval dominated the other two spots for the victory. Changhong Tang and Chau Do cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 decision on court two while Len Pfuntner and Kim Le grabbed line three by a 6-3, 6-1 final margin.

Captained by Tai Pham, the full Duval roster includes Pfuntner, Adam Mercer, Maureen Pelletier, Pam Fritz, Do, Tang, Le, Vivienne Tran, Kim-Lan Huynh, and Jack Francis.

Kicking off Monday’s action was the 8.0 semifinals, where Sarasota (Longboat Key Tennis Center) held off Marion (Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club) 2-1 and wild card entrant Hillsborough (HCC Tennis Complex – Tampa) swept aside Pinellas (East Lake Woodlands Country Club – Oldsmar) 3-0.

Sarasota got off to a commanding start thanks to Jeffrey Stern and Rosa Rojas Weis dominating 6-0, 6-1 in the top spot. They also managed to win the opening frames at the other two positions to take full control, although Marion would not go away easily. Calvin Hac and Ann Lammers eventually prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 on court three to clinch Sarasota’s spot in the final; Dean Dancer and Babette Paige retired despite leading 7-6, 5-5 to get Marion on the board. Hillsborough would also take all three first sets versus Pinellas, but again, the 3-0 final score would be misleading. Clark MacCullough and Joann Suyao earned court three 6-4, 6-2; however, the top two spots went to decisive match tiebreaks. Chris Canfield and Kerryn Ellson hung on for a back-and-forth 6-3, 0-6, 1-0 win on court two to go along with Marvin Ho and Kathleen Stein getting through their contest at the top spot 6-4, 3-6, 1-0.

The rematch between Sarasota and Hillsborough went just the way round one did, as Sarasota emerged victorious, two courts to one. Nick Hardy and Sandra Poston made quick work of line three – 6-3, 6-1 – while the Sarasota duos staked themselves to early advantages at the remaining two spots. In the end, Stern and Rojas Weis battled their way to a 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 win at line two to clinch the title. Sarasota retired on court one despite leading 6-4, 5-4.

For complete results from the 2019 USTA Florida Mixed 40 & Over 6.0/8.0 Sectional Championships, click here.