Susan Wright is a mother, grandma and world-class tennis player.
At 48 years old, Wright has worked herself into top shape and is on the verge of winning her first Denver City Open title. Wright beat top-seeded Tabatha Knop in the semifinals Saturday, sending the much younger favorite home in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Wright will compete against another veteran, Rhona Kaczmarczyk, 41, who defeated Tiffany Knop, Tabatha’s twin sister, in the women’s final today at the Denver Tennis Club.
In the men’s open semifinals, defending champion Bart Scott found it was going to be tough to repeat but defeated longtime friend Cory Ross 6-4, 6-2 to get to the finals.
“It’s always tougher (trying to repeat). Playing Cory in the semis is not a good draw,” Scott said. “That could have easily been the finals.”
Ross started playing tennis at a young age in Denver; Scott in Colorado Springs. Scott says they have played more than 100 matches against each other, with an even record dating to when Scott was 8 and Ross was 7. Their semifinal match was the first time they had met competitively since Ross beat Scott in 1999 in the Class 4A high school state final.
This time, Scott got the best of Ross by playing tough angles throughout the match, and his one-handed backhand and well- placed forehand shots overpowered Ross.
“I was getting frustrated because I hate to lose, but when a guy plays as well as he does, you just have to give him credit,” said Ross, the 2004 champion.
Meeting Scott in the men’s final is Willie Dann, who outlasted Peter Richman 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The women’s final matches two experienced players who never have faced one another. Wright has played all over the world, most recently in April when she took third place in the Internation Tennis Federation’s Senior World Championships in Durban, South Africa.
This marks the second time Wright has entered the Denver tournament in the Open category, after usually entering in the 45+ division.
“I’m playing better. I have been playing national tournaments now for the past four years,” Wright said. “The young girls are just fast and they hit the ball hard, but it was pretty one-sided today.”
Wright’s competition, Kaczmarczyk, is playing in her eighth Denver Open after moving to Colorado 10 years ago. The only years she didn’t play were for the birth of her two children.
Kaczmarczyk beat Tiffany Knop 6-1, 6-0 to get to the women’s final. Accustomed to matching up against much younger competition, Kaczmarczyk is looking forward to having the younger legs today.
“I think it will be a fun match. We are both at a similar stage, similar ages,” said Kaczmarczyk, the 2005 runner-up. “We both are working late in our careers. I am excited.”
Last year Wright was knocked out of the tournament early, but insists it was because she took time off to help care for the birth of her granddaughter.
Wright’s father, Enver Meh- medbasich, also did well in the Open. Mehmedbasich won the 75+ singles title with his 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Clifford Jensen. He advanced to the final of 70+ doubles before being defeated.
Top-seeded men’s player Jeremy Wurtzman, 24, withdrew from his singles match Friday because of illness. Wurtzman was the overwhelming favorite going in because he was near the top of his sport at Ohio State, and currently is on the ATP Tour.
Staff writer Brandon Meachum can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bmeachum@denverpost.com.