March - April 2001
Vol. 12, No. 2 | Contents
Story & photos
by Jim Hiser
Jackie is back! After being plagued by a series of injuries, plus a slow adjustment to the new LPRA rules that went into effect last September, Jackie bounced back from inconsistent performances early in the season to climb within 30 points of the number one position on the LPRA tour. After a strong showing in Denver, where she advanced with straight game wins all the way to the event victory, everyone was waiting to see if Jackie could maintain her momentum to claim another tour title. The Rosarito Beach event had all the fanfare and luxuries of a true professional sporting event. Dignitaries, great press and television coverage, an exclusive oceanfront resort setting, tremendous hospitality, exuberant fans, three national and five world champions in the mix, and of course, great competition.
In the early rounds, tour veteran Janet Myers surprised everyone by systematically dismantling Mexico’s women’s open champion Lupita Torres. Janet’s control and off-speed passing game had Lupita both frustrated and exhausted after their five-game marathon.
Canada’s Lori Jane Powell continued to draw some of the most difficult first round matches, going up against U.S. Junior Team member Brooke Crawford of Oregon. But Powell’s experience seemed too much for Crawford in her first LPRA event. “I loved the scoring system, and would like to see Juniors use it, but I would have to get in much better shape for future events” gasped Crawford, after losing in a close 21-18 tiebreaker.
The round of 16 played out much as expected, except for the win by Michelle Lucas, who upset No.7 seeded Kim Machiran. Michelle seemed on top of her game in overpowering Kim and consistently keeping her off balance with precise drive serves. Kersten Hallander and Lori Jane Powell had another of their close fought battles with Kersten outlasting her opponent in four. The difference continues to be Kersten’s ability — and L.J.’s inability — to make critical shots at crucial times. A long serve at 20-19 that cost L.J. the fourth game was indicative of that inconsistency.
In the quarterfinal round, No.5 seeded Laura Fenton proved to everyone that experience does love its advantages. Playing consistently solid and using high percentage shots, she beat U.S. Open phenom and No. 4 seeded Rhonda Rajsich in four very close games. After her career high finish in Memphis, Rhonda has faltered as her “go for broke” shot selection continues to cost her critical points. Her tremendous physical ability keeps pressure on her opponents, but numerous errors and poor shot selection has cost her matches in both of the follow-up LPRA events.
Two of the remaining top three seeds advanced in four games (Van Hees over Acosta, and Gudinas over Hallander), while Paraiso stuck with her “no losses” game plan with an advance over Lucas in three.
In the semi’s Christie Van Hees proved why she has claimed the No.1 spot, by defeating Fenton in three straight games (although the close second game went to 25-23). Boasting a very consistent game style, Christie seldom beats herself, and her ability to retrieve Laura’s passing shots forced Fenton to go for the bottom board to win whatever rallies she could.
Jackie Paraiso once again completely controlled national rival Cheryl Gudinas, who hadn’t won an event since the season opener in September. Her earlier-than-expected losses have lowered Cheryl’s ranking position and held her in the No.3 spot, at least for the time being.
This Mexican beachfront final was a true international dogfight with USA’s Paraiso and Canada’s Van Hees alternating games right up to the fifth game tiebreaker. Although Jackie had seemed to be over the “back-hand problems” that had troubled her early in the season, they dramatically re-appeared in the finals. In the second game, she shot 32 backhands, only 4 of which scored her points, while the remaining 28 were – to term it politely – a bit high. The errors showed up early in the match, at 20-19 in the first game, when she backhanded a ball completely out of court.
Luckily for Jackie, Christie was unable to capitalize on that strange “around the world” weakness, which kept the match both exciting and unbelievably close. Jackie successfully served for the match in the fifth, to close out the 21-19 win.
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