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Lively Action at Doubles Tennis See Tennis
Singles Results and Doubles Results at Return to TransWeb's coverage of Singles Doubles involved regular scoring in an eight-game ProSet, win by two
games rules format. A twelve-point tiebreaker settled ties occurring at
eight games. Organization at the event was superb with the brackets and
court assignments The teams took on a new look due to rules changes for 1998 which required
members of a team to be from the same state. Prior to 1998 pairings could
consist of individuals from different states. Thus, many of the sixteen
men's, six womens and sixteen mixed doubles teams were playing together
for the first time. One of the new pairings included the Team Michigan's Karen Barker (kidney transplant from her sister in 1976) and Sandy Webster (first kidney transplant in 1976 from her sister; and a second in 1995 from her husband). Karen, a veteran of eight Games, and Sandy had played together in only two tournaments prior to their 1998 Games appearance. Karen has seen the Games grow tremendously over the years and finds herself in a mentor's role with first time athletes. Barker's enthusiasm for the Games has not diminished over the years; and, she extended her thanks to the tennis organizing committee for a really well run tourney. The second oldest competitor in the Games, Jerry Friedman (kidney transplant
- two and a half years), is participating in the men's and mixed doubles.
Jerry and his 37 year old partner, both from the Cleveland area, played
together only once prior to the Games.Friedman brought his own cheering
section consisting of all eight Although the competition was hopping and lively, the camaradarie before and during each of the matches was very much in evidence as shown by the funfilled verbal interplay and was equalled only by the heartwarming congratulations and hugs following match conclusion. |