Articles

1968 Local

Men's singles ¼ f : S Khoury d T Kettaneh ; E Samuel d A Issa; J Kouayess d F Samuel 64 57 63; K Fawaz d N Hajjar; ½ f : K Fawaz d Jihad Kouayess 60 62 64; E Samuel d Samir Khoury 62 75 63; Final : K Fawaz d E Samuel 108 63 36 61

• Samir Khoury was a very special case in Lebanese Tennis history. Having dominated the local scene in the mid 50's, remaining no 1 between 1953 and 1959, he decided to take his chances at being a professional, and teach the sport with a technique acquired during his travels abroad. The rest of the local coaches were mere ball-jugglers with no serious teaching skills. Samir was in another category altogether. Following strictly the rules of the times, set by the ITF, the Lebanese Tennis Federation barred him from "amateur"competition in Lebanon between 1959 and 1968, and Samir was able to return to the national tournaments in 1968, at the age of 37, now that Open tennis had swept the world. It was thus shocking to see him wilt under Edouard Samuel's energy at Brummana, as the tennis fans were feverously awaiting the clash between the amateur MD, Fawaz, no 1 in Lebanon for more than 9 years, and the sturdy Khoury.


• Samir Khoury possessed a sterling silver flat backhand with a classical style, and a good twist second serve. What he lacked was nerves in times of crisis. Nevertheless, he climbed back to the top of the Lebanese national rankings in 1969-1970 and went on being a reference in local tennis coaching till well into the 70's.

Men's Doubles : ½ : E Samuel-M Alameddine d Khoury-Hajjar; K Fawaz-F Samuel d J Kouayess-P Caramé ; Final : Fawaz-F Samuel d E Samuel-M Alameddine 36 63 62 62.

Ladies singles ½ f : Mounira Zeydane d E de Jongh; Lita Yavérian-Akraoui d Guerimau ; F : M Zeydane d L Akraoui

1968 International 8th September.

Men's singles : 1st rd : Samir Khoury (Leb) d Gurel (Turkey) 64 63; K Wooldridge (GB) d Khodr Issa (Leb) 75 62; Ken Fletcher (A) d Edouard Samuel 62 60; Ray Ruffels (A) d Tarek Kettaneh (Leb) 61 63; Jimmy Moore (A) d Edouard Samuel 46 86 86; Karim Fawaz (Leb) d Aydin (Turkey) 60 61; 2nd rd : W Bowrey (A) d Atas (Turkey) 60 60; Rodriguez d N Hajjar w-o; Bob Maud d S Khoury 61 62; Fletcher d Wooldridge 86 97; Ruffels d J Moore 62 86; Mandarino d K Fawaz 63 62; Frew McMillan (S Afr) d J Kouayess (Leb) 61 61; M Cox d Gursoy (Turkey) 62 60;

¼ f : P Rodriguez (Chile) d Bill Bowrey (A) 61 63; Bob Maud (S Afr) d Ken Fletcher (A) 1311 61; J E Mandarino (Brazil) d Ray Ruffels (A) 46 64 60; Mark Cox (GB) d Frew McMillan (S Afr) 63 63

½ f : Rodriguez d Maud 62 75; Mandarino d Cox 63 75

Final : Mandarino d Rodriguez 57 64 63 63

Ladies singles ¼ f : Faye Moore (A) d A de Jongh ; Gail Sherriff (A) d A Cox (GB) ; Carmen Coronado- Mandarino (Sp-Brazil) d Michelle Boulle Rodriguez (Fr-Chile) ½ f : G Sherriff d F Moore 61 60 ; Lesley Bowrey (Australia) d C Mandarino 62 63 ; Final : Gail Sherriff d Lesley Bowrey 62 97

Mixed doubles Final : G Sherriff-R Ruffels d F Moore-Jimmy Moore 62 62

• Lesley Turner, recently married to Bill Bowrey had won theFrench title at Roland-Garros in 1963 and 1965, and was runner-up in 1962 and 1967, making her the equal on clay of legendary Margaret Smith (Court); she also reached the Australian singles final in 1964 and 1967 + 7 grand Slam doubles titles + mixed titles…. Being the 3d Aussie star of the 60's; Those were the times when Margaret Smith was a super power in world tennis.


• Gail Sherriff once brought down the net on the Wimbledon centre court with one of her forehands, while she was still practicing before her match. This was the only case of a Wimbledon net failure in over 100 years.