Written by Lynn Binnie
Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser
The fulfillment of Reese Brantmeier’s dream of renovating and reopening the tennis courts located on the edge of the Washington Elementary School grounds was celebrated in a grand opening on July 12. Approximately 100 people were in attendance at the dedication, including three of her tennis coaches from North Carolina. One of the coaches remarked that he could see the courts from almost a mile away, as they are painted in “Carolina blue!”
Brantmeier remarked on how the tennis courts at Washington were the initial impetus for her love of tennis. She already competed in the U.S. Open in her junior year of high school. Her hope in rejuvenating the Washington courts was that other children will come to love the sport. She had indicated on the project’s website: “These courts and subsequent programming will introduce local children and families of all skill levels, ages, and identities to the joys and opportunities of this life-long sport. These courts would directly increase physical activity rates, cardiovascular fitness, and overall long-term health by promoting non-sedentary habits.” The library now has racquets and balls available to check out.
Additional donations still needed
Brantmeier’s project is partnered with the Patrick W. Ryan Memorial Tennis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to promoting tennis in Southeastern Wisconsin. Her fundraising efforts were successful in garnering donations not only from the Whitewater area, but from North Carolina and other parts of the U.S., not to mention international contributions including from New Zealand. The total as of the grand opening was nearly $160,000.
According to the project website, the goal is still $200,000 with $161,768.98 having been raised. That leaves the hope of receiving an additional $37,604.02, or $17,604.02 if no lighting is installed. The remainder is needed to establish an endowment that will ensure that the courts are properly maintained for the foreseeable future. Contributions may be made online through the Patrick W. Ryan Memorial Tennis Foundation or by mail c/o Ryan Incorporated Central, 2700 E. Racine Street, Janesville, WI 53545 with a check made out to the foundation and designated for the Brantmeier project.
US Open Results
The University of North Carolina’s Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton won their U.S. Open debut doubles match together last week in an afternoon match on Thursday, topping fellow Americans Thea Frodin and Kristina Penickova, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(8), in the first round of the women’s doubles competition at the US Open. With the win, Brantmeier and Hamilton advanced to the second round, and the two won $30,000 in prize money for the first round win. (Prize money for each round posted on the U.S. Open site.)
In the second round, Brantmeier and Hamilton faced off against the fourth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens last Saturday. The pair defeated the UNC’s Brantmeier and Hamilton 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the 2025 US Open.
Against Kudermetova and Mertens (this year’s 2025 Wimbledon Women’s Doubles Champion), the UNC duo put up a tough fight in the early going of the first set, tying the score at 2-2 after four games. The fourth-seeded pros eventually put away Brantmeier and Hamilton, 6-3 in the first frame. Kudermetova and Mertens led, 5-0, in the second set before winning, 6-1, to take the match.
The 4th-seeded doubles team that defeated Brantmeier and Hamilton advanced all the way to the US Open women’s semifinal at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds in New York City.
Editor’s note: Our thanks to Greg Stewart for the US Open results.
