Kansas City Spoils Dukes’ Record

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Unprepared for the “inspired play” by the Kansas City Explorers Saturday, the Dukes fell one match short of an undefeated season by losing, 29-16.

The Dukes (13-1) were trying to become the first franchise in World TeamTennis history to finish the regular season unbeaten.

“We had a chance to put our name in the history books,” Duke Coach Greg Patton said. “Unfortunately we ran out of ink.”

Patton, who described the Dukes as flat, said the only bright spot came from the women’s doubles team of Amy Frazier and Katrina Adams, who beat Gretchen Majors and Maryann Werdel, 6-5. “Other than that, it was pretty dismal,” Patton said.

Patton said Kansas City (9-5) had to win to tie Atlanta for the Eastern Division championship, and that was reflected in the results.

Despite the loss, Patton said the Dukes, who clinched the West Division title Wednesday with a 26-25 victory over the Phoenix Smash, will be ready for the playoffs.

They have a week off before playing Atlanta on Saturday at home at a time to be determined.

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Ellen Bryant of Corona del Mar teamed with Barbara Mueller of Oconomowoc, Wis., to win the women’s 45-and-over doubles title at the U.S. Women’s Grass Court Tennis Championship in Haverford, Pa.

Bryant and Mueller, who also won the singles championship for the fifth consecutive year, defeated Louis Cash of Upper Saddle River, N.J., and Betty Wachob of Panama City, Fla., 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).

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Roger Hing of Huntington Beach defeated Robin Willner of Westwood, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, to win the men’s 60s singles title at the Capistrano Senior Tennis Championships at the Capistrano Racquet Club.

In other singles finals:

Men’s 65s--Willner d. Francis Jones, La Quinta, 6-2, 6-1; Men’s 70s--Sam Plancia, Canoga Park, d. John Jensen, Newport Beach, 6-4, 6-4; Men’s 75s--Tony Prodan, Irvine, d. Dan Walker, South Gate, 6-3, 6-3; Men’s 80s--Bill Lurie, San Pedro, d. Ron Brandon, Tustin, 6-1, 6-0; Women’s 65s--Elaine Mason, Fresno, d. Phylis Adler, Toluca Lake, 7-6, 6-4.