Dear TTS players:

The 2nd TTS tournament was successfully held on 12/16 (last Sat.) at four season tennis club. First of all, I would like to thank you all to join this social-competition event. Everything ran very smooth. It makes easier for the WACTA staffs to host this event. Thanks Shih-Chun (the first lady), Julie, Jason, and Wen-Bin for their help on administration.

The event started with B-league at 7:00 PM. Captain Ben, after recruiting some new blood over the past month, won the B league title with 24 points. We all know they will try their best to defend their title from last year. This shows their intention. Teams "Crazy Horses" and "Winter Green" tied with 19 points, after applying tie breaker rules (head to head total games), Crazy Horses won the 2nd place with very min. margin. Team, Top Spin, had caught my attention since the first TTS. First, the captain sponsored a uniform for the team and they showed up as a team in the same uniform to play well and look good. Also, they eat and chat together after the matches as a big family. In addition, Captain Tina, brought home made cookies and beer for their team. (According to our information, beers are for other team male players to get drunk so they can't play and the cookies are for other team female players to gain weight so they can't run, it's a tactics thing ..., good try, Tina). Win or loss, team top spin already had fun in TTS and Tina is well deserved the model captain.

In A league, a new team, Breakers, won the title with 31 points. Good job, Captain Bruce! Team, Hope, scored 28 and secured their spots in A league. Team Travellers lost their A league spot by 1 points (27) and will be their first B-league experience in the 3rd TTS. Team, Half Century, did not put their best lineup for this tournament and will go back to B-league in the 3rd TTS as well.

Highlight on the 100% winning club players:

- Breakers: Shelley & Lillian (Women), Fleming & Chris (Open I)

So, Shelley is not only popular in USTA but also in WACTA. There are some people came to Four Season just to watch she play on last Sat.. She is one of few USTA F 4.5 player in WACTA. She is the only player who is in 100% winning club for both 1st and 2rd TTS. That says it all.

The Lure family, Lillian and Fleming, both won all their matches and joined 100% winning club. This family is serious about tennis. All their daughters play for the school team. Their secret is to practice with ball machine. Often, we see them hit hundreds of balls against ball machine on courts. What they say is, "if you are not better than the machine, you can't beat the Lure". With the powerful ground strokes set up by Fleming, Chris just took advantage at the net.

- Crazy Horses: John & Hwar-Ching (Open I)

John is one of the few fast improved players in WACTA. His enthusiasm on tennis makes him a good player. He is not only the sponsor of this year WACTA TTS events, also he organized USTA teams and went to national couple years ago. John has large kudos in WACTA ladder and won the title several times. He unique style makes his opponent hard to read his shots. He makes all his shots with powerful flaps. There is a warning, "Don't try it at home, you will get injured because you are not John" :).

How about Hwar-Ching, I have no idea (and did not get a chance to see him play. All I know about him from the paper is his membership is due ... :). But, he must be a good player to win all 3 matches in Open-I. It is interesting that it seems all captains try to put their best players on Open-I instead of Men. Also, doubles take 2 players to win. Welcome to 100% winning club, Hwar-Ching.

- Racqueteers: Ben & Sandra (Open II)

Ben is the captain of Racqueteers. He won the 3rd place in WACTA Scott cup single this year. Powerful hitter with heavy top spin and fast serves. He took his time to take care of administration work between matches. From this, we know he is not only a good player physically, but also mentally (or maybe the game was too easy for him... :). His partner, Sandra, is a new WACTA member. I did not get a chance to see her play. But from the facts,

- she is the first lady to join 100% winning club in open II

- she plays with her captain

we know she is not a "gasoline saving light". Job well done and welcome to WACTA, Sandra.

Last but not the least, all results are posted at WACTA-TTS web site (http://mysite.verizon.net/wactatts/2006/index.html).

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Happy Holidays and Merry Xmas!

--Chris