Candy performs well in world champs

The St Leonards-based talent made it through to the last eight of the over-55 women’s singles and mixed doubles at the 32nd ITF Seniors World Individual Championships.

Seeded 10, Candy had a bye in the first round of the singles on the hard courts of San Diego before seeing off American player B’ann Gabelt 6-3, 6-1 in the second round last Tuesday morning.

She then chalked up a very good 6-2, 6-3 victory over Christiane Deryckere, the seventh seed from Belgium, in the third round 24 hours later to set up a quarter-final clash against fourth seed Carolyn Nichols.

American player Nichols hadn’t dropped a game in the previous two rounds, but Candy made her work hard for her place in the last four before being edged out 3-6, 6-3, 2-6 last Thursday morning.

Teaming up with compatriot Jeremy Trafford in the mixed doubles, Candy again received a bye in the first round. The fourth seeds then beat the American pair of Jackie Heston and Tom Rettenmaier 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.

The British combination were due to face another American twosome in the quarter-finals last Thursday afternoon, but withdrew from the match, giving Carolyn Lane and Rob Millsap a walkover through to the semi-finals.

See Friday’s Hastings and Rye Observers for the full article.