In one afternoon, Utah's two hopefuls became spectators in the Wendy's National Senior Indoor Tennis Championships on Saturday.
Clark Robinson of Bountiful, was upset in the quarterfinals of the men's 50 singles, losing to Rob Cadwallader of Germantown, Tenn., 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.Later, Jim Osborne lost to an old nemesis, Brian Cheney of Chandler, Ariz., in the quarterfinals of the men's 45 singles, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).
Robinson, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury this winter, was the No. 2 seed in the division, Cadwallader the No. 5. From the onset of the match, however, it was obvious that it would be Robinson struggling for control.
Unforced errors and a poor first service were costly to Robinson. In the second set he started to hit winners and his service improved and that carried over until the fourth game of the third set. Tied at 2-all and on service, Robinson couldn't capitalize on two break points to go ahead. Instead, Cadwallader won the next four points to save the game, then rode the momentum to the victory.
Robinson admitted to a weak service, an off day and the fact that Cadwallader "didn't make many mistakes today."
In Osborne's final WAC tournament as a University of Utah All-America, he met and lost to Cheney. Later he was to play and beat the Arizonan in a men's 45 event. But Saturday's match belonged to Cheney, the No. 1 seed in the 50s, and for a time the No. 1 ranked player in the country in the men's 45.
Here, too, it was Cheney who made the fewest mistakes and came away the winner.
Robinson and Osborne were Utah's last link to this national event being played at the Canyon Racquet Club.
Semifinals will be played today, with the finals scheduled for Monday.
In other matches, Steve Wilkinson of St. Peter, N.M., the No. 1 seed in the men's 50, survived his match with Gordon Smith of Greenbrae, Calif., 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. And, No. 4 seeded Gil Howard of Daly City, Calif., beat Stephen Ronfeldt of Berkeley, Calif., 7-6, 6-4.
In the men's 45, No. 2 seeded David Nash advanced with a 7-3, 7-6 (7-3), win over Dick Johnson of St. Louis, Mo.