WDSA Tour Stop In Denver Launches Hectic Spring Schedule
by Rob Dinerman, for DailySquashReport.com
Dateline March 23rd, 2012 --- Reigning U. S. National Doubles champions Narelle Krizek and Natarsha McElhinny, the only sister team ever to win this coveted crown, are the top-seeded team this weekend when the WDSA pro doubles tour resumes at the Hashim Khan Invitational, hosted as always at the Denver Athletic Club, where Khan served as head pro for several decades. They have received a bye into the semifinals of the six-team draw, as have second seeds and first-time partners Steph Hewitt (who with Canadian compatriot Seanna Keating toppled the Krizek/McElhinny pair in the World Doubles final this past May) and Dana Betts, who with her regular partner Emily Lungstrum out-played Krizek and Lee Belknap this past winter in the finals of the William White Invitational in January and the New York Athletic Club Invitational earlier this month.
Friday’s quarterfinal action will match Shirin Kaufman and Victoria Simmonds against the veteran Philadelphia team of Amy Milanek and Dawn Gray, with the winner to then face Krizek/McElhinny, while in the draw’s bottom half Joyce Davenport and Kelcie Engman will take on Karen Jerome and Fernanda Rocha for the right to play Betts and Hewitt. The semis will take place Saturday afternoon, with the final set for Sunday. This tournament is the first of five WDSA events scheduled for the next few months, with tour stops scheduled in Chicago in April, in New York (the $40,000 Turner Cup) and Los Angeles in May, and finishing off with the Wilson Cup in Southhampton in mid-July.
First Round Match-Ups:
Narelle Krizek/Natarsha McElhinny bye
Shirin Kaufman/Victoria Simmonds vs. Dawn Gray/Amy Milanek
Karen Jerome/Fernanda Rocha vs. Kelsey Engman/Joyce Davenport
Dana Betts/Steph Hewitt bye.
DRAW
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