Tennis: Bronze makes Margaret Hall hungry for more Super Senior worlds

Victoria Kerrison (left) and Margaret Hall were Hawke's Bay's representatives in the Kiwi contingent at the Super Senior World Tennis Championships in Florida. Photo/File

Some might have taken a first medal after six attempts at the Super Senior World Team Tennis Championships as a signal ... it would make a fitting finale.

Particularly if you are playing in the New Zealand 80-plus team and the previous best finish before last month's bronze in Florida was a fifth in Croatia in 2013. But not Havelock North's Margaret Hall who was the No 2 woman for the sixth-seeded Kiwis in their nine-team division at Lake Nona.

"Jean [Stevens of Otago, the team captain] asked me if I would go to Croatia next year. We did well there last time so it would be good to go again. Jean is such a good captain - so solid, steady and accurate so it's hard to say no," Hall, 79, said.

Hall was impressed with her team's effort in section play which saw them top their section with five wins and one loss. Second seed Great Britain, who the Kiwis beat, finished with three wins and three losses while Australia had one win and five losses.

Both gold medallists Australia and siver medallists Canada beat New Zealand 6-0 in the playoffs for the podium berths.

"While both of those fixtures were tough it was still pleasing to know the likes of Great Britain, Germany, France, Australia, Argentina and the Ukraine all finished below us," Hall explained.

Once the six-day teams competition ended Hall's attention turned to the eight-day individual events. She beat a French opponent in straight sets in her first match before she was beaten by a United States opponent in the second round.

The United States player was beaten by a teammate in the final. Playing with Waikato's Mary Durham in the doubles, Hall reached the second round with a 6-0, 6-0 win against their Ukraine opponents in the first round and they lost their next outing 6-4, 6-0 to a United States pair.

Hall played with Aucklander Ashley Wilson in the mixed doubles. Wilson, 85, won the Australian 85-plus singles title before travelling to Florida and is New Zealand's highest-ranked player on the world rankings at fourth in his age group.

Hall and Wilson won their first match 6-0, 6-1 and lost their seocnd round match 6-3, 6-4. It was played at 7.40pm after a rain-delayed day.

"We didn't play well because of the long wait and we didn't have dinner," Hall recalled.

On the first day of play conditions were so hot and humid an ambulance was called three times to deal with players who were struggling in the conditions. None of the players were Kiwis.

Greendale's Victoria Kerrison, 67, was the other member of the Kiwi contingent in Florida. These were her fourth worlds and her New Zealand 65-plus team finished fifth equal with France in their 19-team division.

Kerrison and her long-time partner, Sandy Tritt of Waikato, met in the final of the consolation singles for their age group during the individual events and Tritt won. Both Kerrison and Hall will play in the national seniors tournament in Upper Hutt during January.