by Tony Hollins
On a chilly November weekend in Newport, RI, the International Tennis Hall of Fame hosted the Anne Boleyn Ladies Singles. It wasn’t just cold outside, but the ladies had ice in their veins as they steadied themselves for some handicapped singles matches. The round-robin handicapped format of this event meant that there was no clear favorite. It also offers a fantastic opportunity to meet new players and get multiple matches under the belt early in the 2023/24 season. It was great to see that half of the draw was populated by traveling players from Aiken, Philadelphia, and Tuxedo.
The camaraderie amongst the players was cemented during the Thursday training day made possible through the support of the United States Court Tennis Preservation Foundation. Nine of the thirteen ladies participated in on-court drills and technical training followed by practice matches. This allowed the out-of-town players to get comfortable on the court, and the locals to size up their weekend opponents.
After some incredibly close matches in the group stages, Newport locals Kelsey Dolan and Delaney Pothier advanced to the finals. Doubles partners and winners in the Pell Cup earlier in the year, the two did battle for the Anne Boleyn crown. As was the case all weekend, Delaney’s strong railroad serve and volleys / ½ volleys allowed her to dominate the service end and eventually take the match. Congratulations to Delaney on a great win.
Thank you to everyone who participated from near and far, to the USCTPF for their continued support of court tennis, and to the committee and team members Noelle Shiland, Ellen Hermann, Jake Faulise, and Emily Young for making the event run smoothly.
