| The Netherlands and Australia are Invacare World Team Cup Champions |
| The Invacare World Team Cup has crowned two new World Champions after victories by the Dutch mens team and the Australian womens team in New York from July 26 to August 1. Led by Ricky Molier, the Dutch men upset top seed the USA 2-0 to win their first World Team Cup, the International Tennis Federations official wheelchair tennis team championships. |
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It was only the second appearance in the mens final for The Netherlands, the first being against Germany in Barcelona last year. In contrast, the U.S. men had never lost a World Team Cup match on American soil, winning the first seven titles from 1985 to 1991. This year was the first time that the tournament was played at Flushing Meadows, home of the US Open. Guests throughout the week included the mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, who opened the tournament, and former Mayor David Dinkins who is now a member of the USTA Board. |
| The Australian women won a third-set tiebreak in the decisive doubles match against the Netherlands to capture the womens championship. The Dutch women have dominated this event, winning 12 of the 13 titles since the womens championship was added in 1986. They were favoured again this year, seeded No. 1, and boasting four of the top five women in the ITF World Wheelchair Rankings. Australia had never reached the finals of the womens World Team Cup prior to this year. French Fed Cup captain Yannick Noah presented the World Team Cup Trophy to the Australian women. "This is a great event," said Noah. "Ive seen wheelchair tennis before, but the calibre of play here was excellent. The standard keeps getting better and better." |
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Left: Ricky Molier from the Dutch winning team for the
men's event Right: Abraham Weinberg, a member of the Israeli winning team for the Quad event
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