[JonDopl]

(how can we possibly skip posting an article entirely about TAT Fave Grandma Jill!)

Age shall not weary her: Craybas keeps going strong
Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

In the sports world, the term "veteran" conjures up visions of a resilient battler soldiering on even as time and younger opponents march by.

At the age of 34, Jill Craybas hears the word used a lot to describe her continuing presence on the women's tennis tour.

But the American definitely does not feel that way. She believes some good years are still ahead of her in her career.

"It feels a bit strange when I hear that because from my standpoint I'm learning something new every week about playing and being on the tour, and getting better," Craybas said Tuesday after upsetting Canadian eighth seed Aleksandra Wozniak in the first round of the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic.

Giving up 13 years to her 21-year-old opponent, Craybas' experience told in the see-saw match. After losing the first set, she kept her cool, regrouped by mixing up the pace and watched as her younger opponent self-destructed in a flood of errors.

The 1996 NCAA champion is still getting results in singles and doubles.

After her eighth WTA Tour top 100 finish in 2007, she reached her first final in six years at Pattaya, losing a thriller to teenager Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland after holding match point.

She also won her third tour doubles title in Istanbul in May and has earnings of US$220,000 so far this year.

"On court, she is focused and persistent, and very patient," says Indonesian tennis observer Adji Soedibjo, who watched the Pattaya tournament. "Off court, she is one of the nicest and friendliest players."

Rest of article:http://old.thejakartapost.com/detail...911.V02&irec=1