The 2009 Potter Cup is in the books, and the USIC team made an excellent

showing. But as Captain Emeritus Jeff Winkler predicted, the 2008 Spanish

team runners up came loaded for bear in 2009! To make matters worse, through

the vagaries of the expanded 10 team draw, our improved US team matched up 

with Spain in the first round. At line 1, Joey Rive played an inspiring match

against former ATP 23 Jordi Arrese, giving him his toughest test of the week

losing 7-6, 6-1. Joey really had Arrese missing on his favorite surface - his 

backyard. Kevin Gillette at line two had a long tough 3 setter against Miguel

Puigdevall, who also won the rest of the matches. At line three, Peter Smith 

had a match up with recent World Champion Eduard Osta and the 6-4, 6-1 score

could have easily have reversed. Much closer than it appears. Our President, 

Dan Waldman drew former #33 in the world Fernando Luna, and played an excellent

second set 6-0, 7-5. El Presidente came within 2 points of the second set and 

if Luna had not played perfectly, it was apparent that Dan had the edge fitness

wise. At #5, Brucie Lipka ran into Jesus Colas, losing 6-0, 6-2. Jesus decided 

to wait until the second set to miss a ball.

The strength of our team was demonstrated from there on as we did not lose 

another match. The US beat Belgium 5-0 with Dan sitting out and Stephan Hagerup 

winning at 5. This is the same Belgium that the US beat last year 4-3.

Our final match for the 5th and 6th was against a strong German team that lost

to Great Britain in a match that was decided by a hamstring injury a game away 

from victory. Joey beat Stephan Fasthoff in a 3rd set super tie-break in another

great match. Peter beat former European Champion Norbert Henn 6-0, 6-2 and 

Stephan Hagerup beat a good player in Peter Dinckels 6-3, 6-0. Kevin and Bruce

ended with walkovers midway through the first set in each.

While Fifth place is not the position we would have liked to finish, I can report

that our team was very competitive: if a couple of breaks went our way against

Spain, we would have had a very different result. The final standings were as 

follows:

 1 Spain 

 2 Great Britain

 3 France

 4 Italy

 5 United States

 6 Germany

 7 (tie)

   Belgium

   Luxembourg

   Ireland

10 Israel

Finally, it has been an honor for me to be around such a fine team and to have

a great experience at the Potter Cup. It truly is in the spirit of the IC. While 

we did not come away with the Cup, we are very close, and I look forward to great

things next year!

Tres Cushing

Captain 

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