The final day of play at the 2018 USTA Florida 40 & Over 3.5/4.5+ Sectional Championships produced three more teams locking up titles. Broward swept the 3.5 competitions thanks to the women representing the Midtown Athletic Club and the men of the Weston Tennis Center; Pinellas (Tarpon Tennis Club) prevailed in one of the duals of the weekend for the women’s 4.5+ championship.

These three squads join the Orange/Seminole (OTC) men, who defeated SMD on Saturday for the 4.5+ crown.

To start off the morning, Orange/Seminole (Red Bug) and Broward (Midtown) survived their semifinal showdowns to move into the women’s 3.5 final. In Orange/Seminole’s victory over SMD (Dante Fascell Park), a commanding doubles sweep provided the difference in a 3-2 triumph. Overall, Orange/Seminole dropped just 12 games on the three doubles courts. Madelyn Escudero and Jill Civiero were the most dominant, winning 6-0, 6-2 at line three. Misa Kawata and Rachel Halscott came through 6-3, 6-2 at the top spot while Julie Fontaine and Jennifer Carter posted a 6-1, 6-4 result on court two. Orange/Seminole retired in the two singles matchups after the dual was clinched.

Broward also cruised at the first and second doubles lines versus Hillsborough (FishHawk Ranch), which ended in a 3-2 final score as well. Taciana Kalili and Carolina Santos-Mayi gave away only one game at the top spot to go along with Janilka Perez and Lizette Ibarra surrendering just two games. Hillsborough’s Jackie Caouette prevailed 6-1, 6-3 on court two, but Elizabeth Smalley toughed out a 6-4, 6-2 win at the top position to send her team to the final. Hillsborough won line three doubles via retirement.

Fittingly, the championship tilt came down to doubles contests in Broward's 3-2 triumph. The teams split the two singles courts, as Elizabeth Smalley came through on court one for Broward 6-4, 6-4 and Escudero claimed the second position 6-3, 6-0. Kawata and Halscott produced another win at line one, this time by a 6-2, 6-4 margin, which put Orange/Seminole on the brink of a championship as they also earned the opening frames at the remaining two spots. That established the stage for Broward’s clutch comeback. Perez and Ibarra shook of the disappointment of losing a first-set tiebreak at line two, grabbing the second 6-2 and riding the momentum in the match tiebreak. Kalili and Santos-Mayi found little traction early on court three, dropping the first set easily 6-2. They managed to dig in and turn the tide just in time, claiming the second frame 6-3 and closing things out in the decisive match tiebreak.

In the men’s 3.5 semifinals, Alachua (Westside Park) took down Leon (Forestmeadows Park and Athletic Center) and Broward (Weston TC) was awarded a 5-0 sweep over Lee/Charlotte (Cypress Lake), who defaulted all five lines of the dual. The 3-2 score line in favor of Alachua was the result of three straight-set wins – one in singles and two in doubles. Enrique Vargas turned in a solid 6-4, 6-1 victory at the second position. Teammates Mark Martin and Aaron Harris claimed line one doubles 6-3, 6-2 while Lee Johnson and Henry Hatton took court two 6-2, 6-1. Leon's Nicolas Taureau won easily at the top singles spot, which was paired with Brett Bacot and Robert Boyd hanging on in a match tiebreak on court three.

Despite Alachua’s best efforts in the final, Broward was not to be stopped from taking home the title. Two of the three doubles contests were pushed to match tiebreaks, with Broward’s Tomas Echeverria and Fabian Centeno winning the top spot 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 and Alachua’s Cary Blakely and Rick Melzer rallying for a 0-6, 6-3, 1-0 victory at line two. That would be the only court going in favor of Alachua, as Alejandro Gonzalez and Nelson Laboy earned line three 6-4, 6-2. Singles action was more one-sided thanks to comprehensive efforts by Broward’s Fabricio Tobar(6-2, 5-0 ret.) on court one and Jose Martin Gallardo (6-2, 7-6) at the second spot.

The matchup of the day featured Broward (City of Oakland Park) facing off with Pinellas (Tarpon Tennis Club) for the women’s 4.5+ crown. Pinellas was too strong on both singles courts. Lisa Freeman edged out Meg Barclay 6-4, 6-4 on court one and Lisa Haidermota defeated Steffani Lomax 6-4, 6-3. However, finding the clincher proved difficult for Pinellas. All three doubles contests came down to a match tiebreak after extended second sets. Broward’s Sheri Adler and Cheryl Hicks got their team on the board, winning 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 at line one over Lisa Balsera and Maria Drew; teammates Jessy Sadovnik and Betty Brener evened the count thanks to their 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 victory against Stephanie Means and Jillene Panella on court two. The marathon battle at the third spot decided the championship, where Pinellas duo Judi Alford and Sandra Lamas outlasted Rachel Keene and Jodi Appelbaum-Steinbauer 6-4, 5-7, 1-0.

For complete results from the 2018 USTA Florida 40 & Over 3.5/4.5+ Sectional Championships, click here.

Established in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 players in a few parts of the country in its first year to more than 900,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league.

USTA League was established to provide adult recreational players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older.