YOUNG CUP
Gladbeck, Germany

The  1999 Young Cup had 13 teams: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico, So. Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and USA.  The USA had won the event for the previous 6 years, and was the top seed.  There were 4 seeded teams, USA, Argentina, Gr. Britain and Germany.  The teams were divided into 4 groups, each of which had a seeded team and 2 or 3 other teams.  With the USA were So. Africa and France.  Many people believed France should have been seeded, but apparently their lack of ITF participation ruined their chances of being seeded (ie, politics).  The veteran, Tina Karwasky used her superior experience to edge the scrappy Betty Michel at #2 singles 64 76 (coming back from 42 down in the first set, and 65 down in the 2nd set).  USA #1 Diane Fishburne faced Catherine Suire, a former tour player who owns a terrific serve and heavy slice backhand and beautiful forehand.  Suire edged Diane 63 75, rallying from 53 down in the 2nd set.  So it was all up to the doubles, with Karwasky/Mary Mottola playing together for the first time and Mottola making her Young Cup debut.  The duo played brilliantly to defeat Suire/Frederique La Pierre 62 61. 

The Young Cup, Day 2:  The USA beat South Africa decisively.  Karwasky started out beating Izette Kotze 1,0, and Diane Fishburne then whitewashed South Africa's #1 player, Serena Fowler.  Mary Mottola/Carolyn Nichols combined then to beat Fowler/Kotze 76 64 (rallying from 40 down in the 2nd set to take the final 6 games).  The most exciting match of the day took place between Austria and Gr. Britain, the 3rd seed.  Austria #2, Roswitha Woltsche won the first match decisively over Elizabeth Eden of Gr. Britain 2,2.  Then Austria's #1, Patricia Ladenberger had multiple match points against Britain's #1, Anthea Cooper Stewart before Stewart rallied to win the match and even the tie.  Ladenberger and Woltsche then tookon Stewart and Julie Wilson.  The first set was nip and tuck, with the determined Austrians playing brilliantly, both on defense and offense (their poaching was very effective) and the Britains hanging in gamely. The Austrians won the first set 75 and cruised to a win the the 2nd.  Germany beat Canada; Australia beat Sweden, and Argentina beat Spain.  Germany, USA are out to the semis.