A small step, a big step and a huge step. The semifinals of the 95th annual Denver City Open tennis tournament provided different ideas on steppingstones for the four players headed to today’s men’s and women’s finals.
Jeffrey Loehr said it would be a “huge step” for him if he could add a fourth Denver City Open men’s singles title to his trophy case. Loehr takes on fellow Denver player Willie Dann at 10:30 a.m. for the men’s title on the front court at the Denver Tennis Club.
“I think it would be a huge step for me in that I haven’t played for so long,” Loehr said after defeating Sean McManus of Denver 6-1, 6-2. I think I won this tournament for the first time when I was 18. I’m about to turn 37. To spread 18 or 19 years between wins would be neat.”
Loehr won the tournament in 1993, 1996 and 1999.
Dann hasn’t won a Denver City Open title, and it would be a big step for him if he makes the third time a charm.
“This will be the third time I’ve been in the finals,” Dann said. “This is my home club, and it would be nice to win it. I’m not getting any younger. It would be nice to get out there and win it.”
Dann defeated Damon Gillette of Denver 6-2, 6-4.
On the women’s side, Erin Gebes of Littleton wasn’t interested in taking another step right now after winning a marathon 2 hours, 30 minutes-plus match, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 over Sammie Watson of Denver.
“I just had one day off from playing in another tournament before coming here,” Gebes said. “Physically I’m exhausted. A normal match is about an hour and a half.”
Vasilisa Bardina and her coach, Jeff Salzenstein, looked at the Denver City Open as taking a small step toward a possible return to the pro tour. Bardina defeated Shannon Cross of Denver 6-1, 6-1 and will play Gebes at 9 a.m.
“I’m planning to make a comeback,” said Bardina, who grew up in Moscow. “I had several injuries over the last few years that prevented me from playing. I feel I’m close. I need to play in a few more tournaments.”
Bardina halted her tennis career at 19, four years ago.
“She has played in all the grand slams and knows what it takes,” Salzenstein said. “Each tournament now is a little steppingstone in a big journey for her. It’s about being out there competing.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
