Orlando, FL
April and May have given us an incredible stretch of opportunities, thanks to the sheer number of tournaments held in Florida. This week, we returned to the USTA National Campus—but this time for a W35k, a step up from the W15k event we played earlier. Our preparation followed a familiar pattern: we took Monday off work to make the trip and get in a solid practice session on-site. Unlike last week, we were relieved to find that this tournament wasn't affected by any heat delays which made everything feel a lot smoother and more predictable.
With this being a W35k, the competition was definitely a step up, and we were anxious to see our draw. When it was finally posted, we were relieved to find that we wouldn’t be facing a seeded team in the first round. Instead, we were matched up against a duo we were familiar with—two American players who, while solid, were not yet ranked. Even better, we had previously practiced with one of them at Saddlebrook, so we came into the match with a strategy in mind. That familiarity gave us some confidence—and, for the first time in a while, we were finally playing against two right-handed players!
The match itself wasn’t one of our cleanest performances. We came out making more unforced errors than usual and struggling to find our rhythm early on. Something just felt a little off. That being said, having played so many matches recently really worked in our favor. Even without our best stuff, we were able to problem-solve on court, adjust as needed, and figure out what it would take to get the win. Our growing experience gave us the confidence to stay composed and trust our instincts. In the end, we came through with a solid 6–3, 6–3 victory. Not our prettiest match—but a win we earned by staying steady and playing smart when it counted.
In the quarterfinals, we found ourselves up against a team we were fairly familiar with. While we hadn’t played them before, we had seen them around at numerous tournaments, so there was a level of recognition and respect going in. Of course, in classic fashion, we were once again matched up against the #2 seeds. This team featured a Swiss player ranked WTA #350 and Plekhanova, a Canadian ranked #480—a strong, experienced pair with solid results.
We went into the match feeling fairly confident, thanks to the preparation and momentum we’d built over the past few weeks. But that confidence was quickly put to the test. From the very first game, the #2 seeds came out incredibly aggressive, taking control of points early and putting pressure on us any time we showed hesitation. Their pace and precision caused us to press, and we started making errors. They took the first set 6–2, however, we knew exactly what adjustments we needed to make heading into the second set.
In the second set, we made the right adjustments and put ourselves in a position to turn the match around. Both teams raised their level—matching each other in aggression, intensity, and execution. Every point felt like a battle, and the momentum swung back and forth throughout the set. It all came down to a tiebreaker. We saved one match point and even had a set point of our own, but couldn’t quite close it out. We ended up dropping the breaker 8–10, and with it, the match.
Once again, we found ourselves so close against a top team. And honestly, that seems to be the theme lately. We keep putting ourselves in positions to win against strong opponents—but we haven’t quite broken through yet. We’re patiently waiting for the day where we no longer say, “we were so close,” but instead can finally say, “we did it.”
This journey on the pro circuit is anything but easy—mentally and physically. The highs are exhilarating, but the lows can be tough to navigate. Still, we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunities we’ve had so far, the experience we’re gaining, and the lessons we’re learning with every match. We know progress doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard right away, but we’re committed to the process. With each tournament, we’re getting closer, stronger, and smarter—and we truly believe that breakthrough moment is coming.
Points Earned: 8
Price Breakdown
Gas: $100
Food: $50
Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40
Total Cost: $190
Total Earnings: $123
