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Did You Know? - A Letter From The President
Dear Fellow USIC Member:
Did you know that the USIC can help you find tennis courts and tennis games when you and your family travel domestically or internationally? The International Clubs have arrangements with some of the world's finest tennis clubs to make their facilities available to USIC members when they travel. We may even be able to find you a game with a local International Club member. Just let Sports+Plus know prior to your trip where you are traveling and when you would like to play, and we will contact a local International Club member or affiliated tennis club and set something up.
Is there somewhere in the world you or your friends have always wanted to go and play tennis? Did you know that the USIC can help you set up a match with another International Club? Just identify the trip of your dreams, convince some USIC friends or potential members to go and we will contact the local IC and set up a match. There are 40 International Clubs around the world, so use your imagination and pack your bags.
Did you know that the USIC has social events at a number of the major professional tournaments? We have an IC day at the US Open (usually the Wednesday or Thursday of the second week of the tournament), an event at the Miami Open in March and of course a cocktail party on the first Tuesday of the French Open. If you are attending the Grand Slams, Miami, Indian Wells or other major professional events, let us know and try to join your fellow members for some tennis, a drink or just to watch the pros go at it.
Did you know the USIC website is the best source of information for upcoming USIC events as well as recaps and pictures from recent USIC competitions or social gatherings? Visit the website regularly, sign up for matches or just peruse the latest USIC news.
Speaking of the website, did you know that you can now pay your dues online? It's quick, it's easy and we can't organize matches or other fun events or do what we do without your dues. In addition, if you are able, an additional year-end tax deductible contribution will go a long way to allow us to enhance our offerings, provide additional junior scholarships and increase our activities in general. It will be much appreciated. There are also sponsorship opportunities that offer a host of benefits including being a guest of the IC family at the Grand Slams or playing tennis at some of the world's great venues. Have you always wanted to play at the Monte Carlo CC or the All England Club? Enough said! Contact me if you or someone you know might be interested in sponsoring any of our activities.
Have a wonderful holiday season, and I hope all of your serves come up aces.
Hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Dan Waldman
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UPCOMING 2015
USIC MATCHES & ACTIVITIES
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Bahamas IC Doubles Week
Date: January 11 - 17
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Venue: Breezes Superclubs Bahamas
Israel Friendly Match
Date: April 16 -19
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Venue: TBD
Potter Cup
Date: May
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Venue: TBD
Lawrence Baker Bowl / Gengler Cup
Date: June 1
Location: TBD, Canada
Venue: TBD
Avory Cup
Date: September
Location: TBD, US
Venue: TBD
USIC vs India
Date: November 13 - 19
Location: New Delhi, India
Venue: TBD
Amigos Cup
Date: Fall
Location: TBD, Mexico
Venue: TBD
2015 Gene Scott Trophy Date: TBD
Location: New Providence, Bahamas
Venue: Lyford Cay Club
USIC vs Australia
Date: 2015/2016
Location: TBD, US
Venue: TBD
For more details and to sign up visit:
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 | | Nassau, Bahamas |
 | | Barcelona, Spain |
 | | New Delhi, India |
 | | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico |
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Darren Cahill & Gigi Fernandez Receive Johnston & Danzig Awards
At ITHOF Legends Ball
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Dan Waldman, Darren Cahill, Gigi Fernandez, and Donald Dell
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The 2014 ITHOF Legends Ball was a night to remember.
Darren Cahill and Gigi Fernandez received the prestigious William M. Johnston and the Sarah Palfrey Danzig Trophy awards, which were presented by USIC President Dan Waldman and Hall of Famer and former Johnston recipient Donald Dell.
The Legends Ball paid tribute to the Hall of Fame Class of 2014, which included: Nick Bollettieri, Jane Brown Grimes, Lindsay Davenport, John Barrett, and Chantal Vandierendonck.
In addition, the HOF presented USIC Honorary member Pam Shriver with the prestigious Eugene L. Scott Award. The award honors an individual who embodies Scott's commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and who has had a significant impact on the tennis world. Shriver delivered a heartfelt speech upon receiving the award from USIC Honorary member Polly Scott.
The USIC invites you to attend the Legends Ball next year. A special discount is made available to USIC members by the ITHOF. More detailed information will be sent in June.
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Nick Bollettieri, Jane Brown Grimes, Lindsay Pam Shriver proudly displays Eugene L. Scott
Davenport, John Barrett, and Chantal Award
Vandierendonck
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IC Day At West Side Tennis Club
"IC Day," held on September 4 at the historic West Side Tennis Club (WSTC) in Forest Hills, NY, was hosted by USIC/WSTC members James Wilson, Bob Ingersole, Guillermo Oropez, Doug Wigdor, Joe Dippell, Jr. and Steve Schott. The day honored former USIC President Gene Scott, and more than 20 members and friends enjoyed a beautiful outing.
Spirited doubles matches were played on the grass courts, followed by lunch on the terrace. Participants included: Dan Waldman, Don Tansey, Joe Dippell, Jr., Steve Schott, Doug Wigdor, Polly Scott, Gordon Aydelott, Donna Fales, Ann Schwartz, Anthony Franco, Geoff Gocke, and Tom Bender. In addition, three invited guests were proposed as members: Ely (Terry) Kahn, Akemi Kinoshita, and Paulina Rys.
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President's Cup
USIC Wins 14-9
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L to R: Mike Dahm and Blair Neller from USIC and
Daniel Montel & Jacques Thamin from French IC
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5th Presidents Cup USIC vs France IC
Nice, France
September 14 -18, 2014
The 2014 edition of the biennial match between the USIC and France IC got underway when a full squad of 12 USA men, accompanied by wives and/or significant others, arrived in Nice, France at the Westminster Hotel, which is owned by former French Davis Cup player Jean-Noel Grinda. The French IC greeted the entire group with a delightful cocktail buffet.
Host Michel Leclercq, a former French Davis player asked Les Nicholson, former USIC president, to address the teams. In 2006, Nicholson proposed the idea of a competition between France and the USA in honor of Robert "Bobby" Abdesselam, long time president of the French IC, and Gene Scott, long time president of the USIC, both of whom had recently passed away. At the first event, Nicholson presented the French IC with a beautiful large silver bowl to be used as the trophy for the newly established President's Cup competition.
In the most recent competition in 2012, which was played in Philadelphia, the USIC won the match, tying the match score since 2006 at two each, with the home team being victorious in each of the matches.
The tennis schedule kicked off at the Monte Carlo Country Club, where the Monaco IC hosted both the USIC and the French IC in a terrific day of "friendly" mix and match doubles at one of the most beautiful tennis venues in the world, site of the annual Monte Carlo Rolex Masters. Following lunch on the terrace overlooking the Cote d'Azur, the teams played competitive doubles on the red clay throughout the afternoon. After a lovely tour of Monaco, the USIC team returned to the club for a delightful champagne buffet and a warm welcome from the president of the Monaco IC.
Monday was a practice day for the US team at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club where everyone participated in doubles and singles during the morning, leaving the afternoon free for what is known as the "Little Train" tour of Nice, which took the group to the Old City, the flower market, the Place Massena, Place Garibaldi, the marina, and Castle Hill, or Colline du Château, as it is called in French, which was more "hill" than "castle".
After a rest day, the President's Cup match culminated at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club, with 13 matches scheduled, providing intense competition.
USIC needed to win five in order to clinch the Cup. The morning started out with Team France IC winning the first five singles matches, going ahead 8-7, with eight doubles matches to follow. Team USIC WON seven of the eight matches, giving Team USIC the Cup by a total score of 14-9, marking the first time the visiting team won on foreign soil.
 | | USIC Team with the President's Cup Trophy |
The French IC hosted a truly memorable gala dinner at the Blue Beach Restaurant on the water in Nice. Thierry Pham, the French IC president, welcomed both teams and presented the USIC captain, Blair Neller, with a commemorative silver box engraved with the event name, venue, and date. Neller then presented Pham and their captain, Bruno Renoult, with a photo of the 12 USIC players (taken on the terrace of Monte Carlo CC) in a sterling silver frame.
Neller was made an honorary member of the French IC and was presented with a French IC tie. On behalf of Team USIC, Neller then presented Renoult with a USIC tie, proclaiming him an honorary member of the USIC.
| US Men Players |
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Robb Bunnen Blair Neller
Michael Dahm Leslie Nicholson
Mark Harrison Jimmy Parker
Richard Johnson Jeffrey Snow
David Nash Robert Van Malder
Armistead Neely Paul Wulf
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Amigos Cup
 | | Mexico IC and USIC Teams |
October 24 - 26
Pacific Palisades, CA
Riviera Country Club
US Players
Women Men
Captain: Pam Austin Captain: Andy Lake Brendan Murphy*
Natalie Bagby Jeff Austin James Nelson
Linda Bucklin Chris Bensinger Josh Oswald*
Wendy Levy* Jim Curley* Art Rodriguez*
Pamela Schultz Peter Davidson Kline Sack
Neel Grover Howard Sands
Harlan Stone
*Non-member
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USIC Reclaims Broward Craig Trophy
USA Wins 14 - 12
 | | Broward Craig Trophy |
The third edition of the Broward Craig Trophy, the bi-annual match between the ICs of the USA and Belgium, was held at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, FL, on October 29 - 31. Dubbed the Sunshine City in the 1920's, St. Pete lived up to its moniker as the event was played in perfect Florida weather - 77 degrees, low humidity, and powder blue skies.
The host country had dominated the past two competitions, with the USA winning 45-28 in Philadelphia in 2010 and the Belgians coasting 20 - 7 in Brussels in 2012. However, in St. Pete, to the delight of both IC Captains, the thrilling competition was not decided until the final doubles session.
After the morning singles matches on Day One, the Belgian IC claimed a 5 - 4 lead. Four doubles matches were decided evenly in the afternoon session, giving the Belgians a 7 - 6 lead at the conclusion of Day One.
A strong showing by the US singles players in the morning on Day Two swung the lead to the Americans 12 - 9. With five doubles matches slated for the final afternoon session, the USIC held a decisive, but not insurmountable lead. Each IC claimed a straight set doubles victory bringing the score to 13 - 10. The remaining three doubles matches split sets and were decided by 10 - point match tiebreaks. The Belgians won two, but the US won one for the 14 - 12 overall team victory. Kay and Bob Beverley were the American heros, winning the deciding doubles match 12 - 10 in a third set tie break which featured match points for both teams - whew!
The following matches were played (scores have been omitted to protect those defeated; *Denotes matches decided by third set match tiebreak):
 | | USIC Team |
DAY ONE
Session One:
Matt Litsky (US) d Alain Carlier (BEL)
Patrick Bol de Bal (BEL) d Jeff Snow (US)
Diane Guns ( BEL) d Linda Miller (US)
Ann Marie Van Coillie (BEL) d Frances Dickenson (US)
Robert Van Malder (BEL ) d Gary Boss (US)
Joe Bachmann (US) d Rudy Michielsen (BEL)
Craig Allison (US) d Alex Lamquet (BEL)*
Hartmut Liebel (US) d Philippe Vercruysse (BEL)
Dan Charles ( BEL) d Bob Beverley (US)
Session Two:
Guns/Bol de Bal (BEL) d Janet Newberry Howe/Jeff Winkler (US)
Bachmann/David Dickenson (US) d Michielsen/Rob Kuijers (BEL)
Boss/Blair Neller (US) d Charles/Lamquet (BEL)*
Van Coillie/Carlier (BEL) d Kay and Bob Beverley (US)
DAY TWO
Session Three:
Fabiana Taverna (US) d Guns (BEL)
Litsky (US) d Bol de Bal (BEL)
Carlier (BEL) d Liebel (US)*
Snow (US) d Vercruysse (BEL)
Lamquet (BEL) d Boss (US)
Bachmann (US) d Charles (BEL)
Allison ( US ) d Michielsen ( BEL )
David Dickenson (US) d Kuijers (BEL)*
Session Four:
Bol de Bal/Carlier (BEL) d Litsky/Liebel (US)*
Snow/Winkler (US) d Vercruysse/Van Malder (BEL)
Kay and Bob Beverley (US) d Van Coillie/Kuijers (BEL)*
Michielsen/Lamquet (BEL) d Boss/Neller (US)*
Guns/Charles (BEL) d Frances Dickenson/Allison (US)
 | | Players from the USIC Women's Team |
Festivities began with a mix and mingle cocktail hour at the Vinoy lobby bar on Tuesday. Embroidered beach towels were presented to all players.
On Wednesday night cocktails and dinner were held at the home of Ann and Jeff Winkler. Attendees included the players and spouses as well as WTA Tour CMO Steve Tseng and his wife, Maia, and the late Broward Craig's wife, Joyce, and children Doug and Debi.
The Thursday night Gala Dinner was held in a private room at nearby 400 Beach Seafood and Taphouse. The crowd was entertained with a slide show of event photos of the matches and the Wednesday night dinner, a presentation by Doug Craig on his father's tennis history, and speeches by Belgian captain Van Malder and US captain Winkler. Robert Van Malder and Diane Guns were invited to become Honorary International USIC Members. The Belgian IC invited Jeff Winkler to become an Honorable International Member.
Friendly doubles matches were played on Friday morning. Each team consisted of a Belgian and a US player. Handshakes and hugs followed, and everybody went back to their lives better from the experience, and friendships across the nets were met.
In the end, Joyce Craig, who attended all events, said, 'this was the finest IC event that I have ever attended - Broward would have loved it!'
US Players
Women Men
Kay Beverley Captain: Jeff Winkler Hartmut Liebel
Frances Dickenson Craig Allison Matthew Litsky
Carolyn Nichols Joseph Bachmann Blair Neller
Robert Beverley Jeffrey Snow
Gary Boss
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John Powless Featured
In Tennis Heroes Issue
Of Tennis Magazine
 | | John Powless, King of the Court |
"I have a match in an hour," John Powless says a few seconds after he picks up the phone.
On the one hand, this isn't the most surprising message a caller might hear from a tennis player. On the other hand, not every tennis player is 82 years old and answering from a hotel room in Argentina, 5,500 miles south of his Wisconsin home.
Tennis and traveling are in Powless' blood, and there's no getting them out now. Wherever in the world he happens to be, there's a good chance the No. 1 player in the men's 80-and-over division in the United States is getting ready to play a match. He starts his stretching exercises even before he's turned off his alarm at 5:00 each morning.
It's a routine that has served the former men's basketball and tennis coach at the University of Wisconsin well. A standout athlete at Murray State in the 1950s, and the owner of the John Powless Tennis Center in Madison, WI, he has been a dominant force on the USTA senior circuit for nearly three decades -- how many players, at any level, can claim that kind of longevity at the top?
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Congratulations To USIC
ITF Super-Seniors World Team Champions!
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John Powless
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Women's 65 & Over
- Kathy Bennett
- Brenda Carter
- Carol Clay
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