Ulla Winter League 2023-2024 Round 7 Report
Sponsored by Ulla Vitamins
Last year the “Curse of Topping your Group” and not winning your section was broken in both Section B (The Harpies) and Section C (The Yetis). Remember those mythical creatures? However, we have to go all the way back to the 2017-2018 Winter League before finding a Section A team (The Desperados) that wasn’t so cursed. This year it is up to tennis’s greatest female icon, Billie Jean King, to break the spell.
2022-2023 Winter League Knock-Out Stage fact: Ten of the thirteen matches went to the #2/#3 Championship tie-break to determine the winner. Have this year’s teams prepared for this possibility?
In Section A Mick Collins’ Team Billie Jean almost let their lead (which they had held since Round 3) slip. In the end they topped the section by a single point over Patrick Aherne’s Team Venus. Aidan O’Brien’s Team Rafa was a further point behind in third place. Stephan Devaney’s Team Djockovic did just enough to secure the last semi-final place, only a point ahead of Mary Geary’s Team Serena. Team Serena will contest the Plate Final against Betty O’Brien’s Team Federer.
What a crazy ending to Section B! Six teams changed their position in the final round! #1 moved to #2; #2 moved to #1; #3 moved to #5; #4 moved to #3; #5 moved to #6; and #6 moved to #4. Team Evert (Captain Kathy Anning) came first. One point below them was Team Sampras (Captain Dermot Nash). Five points lower was Team Navratilova (Captain Patsy King). One point below them was Team Sharapova (Captain Deirdre Coffey). One point lower was Team Tsitsipas (Captain Caroline Rice) who will play Team Agassi (Captain Deirdre Maguire) in the Plate Final.
Team Wozniacki captained by Noreen Clifton Brown cruised into the top spot of Section C with an assured 21-13 victory over Norma Power’s Team Connors. This left Team Connors confined to the Plate Final against Ruari Duffy’s Team Borg. Paul Aplin’s Team Murray had a decisive win over Elaine Miller’s Team Seles to secure second place. They will meet again in the semi-final whereas Liz Cooper’s Team Graf will be Team Wozniacki’s opponent in the other semi-final.
In Section D the top two teams faced each other. Shane Grace’s Team Barty just managed to defeat Mariel Hiney’s Team Isner by an 18-16 scoreline but were left one point short of topping Section D: 115-114! Meanwhile Sinead Spain’s Team Lendl fell one point short of qualifying for the semi-finals despite taking all 22 points in Round 7. Simon Brown’s Team Swiatek and Andrea Becker’s Team Henman edged over the line. Team Lendl plays Team Hingis (Captain Deborah O’Kane) in the Plate Final.
Semi-Finals and Finals will take place over the coming week and the Prize-giving will take place in Reddans Bar, Killaloe on Friday night at 9:30pm after the Section A and B Finals. This is one of the biggest social events in the KBTC calendar so do come along and raise a glass to all our mighty WL tennis icons!
IMPORTANT MESSAGES TO TEAMS IN THE KNOCK-OUTS!!
1. Please have a look at the schedule for all the knock-out matches. We like to see all teams playing without subs but subs can be used if necessary. There are different rules for subbing in the Knock-outs! Please read Rule 9!
2. Also please note Semi-finals can be rearranged once both captains agree. Rearranged matches must be played before the Final and the Competition Organiser must be informed and agree to the changes. Please read rule 12!
3. It is also important to note that the playing format is different for the Knock-out stages! Please read Rule 7!
Many thanks to Ulla Vitamins for sponsoring the Winter League. Their products are available in Super Valu, Dunnes Stores, Boots and McCauleys Chemists. Their Instagram and Facebook have changed to ullavitamins so a like, share and follow to learn about us and receive info on our offers would be appreciated. www.ullavitamins.ie
Alan Williamson
Competition Organiser