Southern Californians Among American Champions at
ITF World Team and Individual Championships

Team USA continued its tradition of excellence at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 75, 80, and 85 and over World Team Championships on the red clay courts in Bol, Croatia, capturing three of the six world titles in one of the most inspiring events on the masters tennis calendar. Among the top contenders were several players from Southern California, demonstrating not only remarkable skill but also the longevity, wellness, and camaraderie that define tennis. Their on-court talent and determination were matched, exemplifying the sportsmanship and lasting friendships that makes tennis unique. These athletes are living proof that tennis is one of the world’s healthiest sports, a game shown to extend life expectancy by up to 9.7 years.

The ITF World Team Championships are the super-senior equivalent of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Seventy teams from twenty-three nations from around the globe competed this year, showcasing a level of international competition that highlights the enduring global love for tennis.

The United States claimed victories in the Angela Mortimer Cup for Women’s 85 and over, the Gardner Mulloy Cup for Men’s 80 and over, and the Queens Cup for Women’s 75 and over, continuing a stretch of recent dominance. This marked Team USA’s fifth consecutive Angela Mortimer Cup, the fourth straight Gardner Mulloy Cup for the men, and the first Queens Cup victory since 2017. For many of these athletes, the championships were not just about medals, but about passion, purpose, and staying active well into later years.

Immediately following the ITF World Team Championships, American athletes continued their dominance in Croatia at the recently-concluded International Tennis Federation (ITF) 75-, 80-, 85-and-over World Individual Championships.

From San Diego, 87-year-old Roz King, currently the World No. 1 Doubles and World No. 3 Singles player in the 85 and over ITF rankings, has added another chapter to her illustrious career. A longtime pillar of masters tennis, King mentors players and champions the sport throughout the San Diego community. She served as captain of the 2023 Angela Mortimer Cup winning team and earlier this spring captured both the singles and doubles titles at the 85 and over MT1000 Pelham clay court event.

This year, King played a key role in securing another Angela Mortimer Cup championship for Team USA. Partnering with Donna Fales of Coral Gables, Florida, she won all four of their women’s doubles matches in straight sets against opponents from Argentina, Australia, Germany, and Great Britain. The pair teamed up again the following week at the ITF World Individual Championships, where they dominated Argentina’s Rosa Gema Quiroga and her partner Nora Kotler 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals, then defeated Germany’s Irmgard Gerlatzka and Liselotte Mueller 6-3, 6-2 to claim the women’s 85 and over doubles title. In singles at the Individual Championships, King reached the semifinals.

83-year-old David Dollins of Escondido helped his team secure the Gardner Mulloy Cup, battling through a hard-fought final against France. At the ITF World Individual Championships, Dollins showcased his competitive drive, reaching the singles final before falling to France’s Serge Guerin in the 80 and over division. In doubles, he partnered with fellow American Jody Rush of Tumwater, Washington to advance to the semifinals.

Fellow San Diegan 77-year-old Liane Bryson helped lead Team USA to victory in the Queens Cup, the first American win in that division since 2017. Bryson, who has won more than 83% of her clay-court matches this year across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, continued her impressive run in Croatia in the 75 and over ITF World Individual Championships, reaching the women’s doubles final with fellow Southern Californian Ann Stanley from Lake Sherwood, and the Mixed doubles final with Switzerland’s Petr Kolacek. Her consistent success reflects years of dedication and serves as a reminder that competitive tennis continues to thrive in Southern California at every age.

81-year-old Andrea Polisky of Palm Desert, who won the Mixed 80 and over doubles title at the 2024 ITF Masters World Individual Championships, represented Team USA in the Doris Hart Cup for women’s 80 and over, helping her team finish second overall to France. Competing at that level requires consistent training and resilience, qualities Polisky has demonstrated both on and off the court.

Together, these Southern California players are proof that tennis truly is the sport for a lifetime. Beyond the competitive results, the events underscored the deep wellness benefits of the game. Tennis helps improve cardiovascular health, balance, and coordination, while also supporting mental sharpness and emotional well-being. The social connections that come from being part of a tennis community are just as important, keeping players motivated and engaged at every stage of life.

“The Master Tennis Championships embody the timeless spirit of the game,” says Maria Goldberg, Senior Director of Competition. “The competitors’ dedication and love for tennis remind us that the sport knows no age limit—it continues to inspire, unite, and celebrate the best of competition at every stage of life.”

Whether playing for a world title or rallying with friends at a local park, athletes like King, Dollins, Bryson, and Polisky embody what it means to stay active, connected, and inspired through tennis. Their achievements in Croatia stand as a celebration of skill, longevity, and community, and a reminder that it is never too late to play the game you love.