Orlando, FL
The Florida tournament series began with a W35k event in Orlando. Since our recent move to South Florida, the trip required a slightly longer drive—approximately 3.5 hours—but thanks to Madi’s parents and their accumulated Marriott points, we were able to stay for two nights at no cost, keeping the overall travel expenses minimal. Having just competed in two consecutive clay court tournaments, we entered this event feeling well-prepared and confident.
We entered the tournament with minimal expectations, which at times can work to our advantage. In the weeks leading up to the event, Madi had been managing some health issues and underwent a colonoscopy the Monday prior. We had a 50-50 chance of competing on Tuesday or Wednesday so we were grateful to receive a Wednesday first-round match. The additional day provided valuable time for her to rehydrate and recover.
We ended up with a pretty favorable draw. In the round of 32, we played a team from Mexico—one ranked around 500 in the world and the other just 16 and unranked. We had watched them compete in Sumter, SC, so we entered the match with a solid game plan. We started strong, taking control early and keeping pressure on them. Although they adjusted and pushed back in the second set, we worked through it and closed out the match 6–2, 6–4.
In the quarterfinals, we faced the same team that had beaten us in Hilton Head, SC. It was another tight battle, but knowing their tendencies helped us raise our level. Both teams adapted well to each other’s weaknesses, and the match stayed close throughout. The first set came down to 5–6, deuce, but with Madi still feeling the after-effects of her procedure, we dropped the set 5–7.
With lower expectations and less pressure in the second set, we played some of our best tennis, pulling out a 7–6 win to force a super tiebreaker. For those following our journey, you know we’d been on nearly a six-super-tiebreaker losing streak—so it felt like it was time to break it. The tiebreaker was another nail-biter, with neither team taking a clear lead, but with determination and focus we pulled through 10–7. That win put us into our first-ever W35k semifinal. We were thrilled with our performance and felt we were playing some of the best tennis of our careers.
In the semifinals, we faced a team we’d nicknamed “the Palm Trees.” Both players were over 6 ft tall and ranked around 800 in the world. They applied constant pressure with big serves and aggressive returns, keeping us on defense nearly every point. We struggled in the first set but made solid adjustments in the second; however, it wasn’t quite enough, and we lost 1–6, 6–7.
Considering everything leading up to this tournament, we couldn’t have been more proud of the result. Low costs, low pressure, and low expectations allowed us to relax and play freely—and it showed. This week proved how much better we compete without added stress. Up next was another W35k in Orlando!
Points Earned: 14
Price Breakdown
Gas: $60
Food: $100
Hotel: $164
Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40
Total Cost: $364
Total Earnings: $460
