Brzova and Stoklasova Plow Through Greater Boston Open

Paula Fazli and Carolyn McCoy
December 11, 2012
Weston, MA

It was an early morning call from Ana Brzova on Monday, December 3, that eventually resulted in the BIGGEST DRAW EVER for the Greater Boston Open Women’s PCQ/NRT, held on Saturday, December 8. “Viki (Stoklasova) and I want in,” she said. “We are coming to Boston.” And so they did. The 11th-hour call paid off big time, with Brzova and Stoklasova taking the top prize, plowing through the main draw and winning the final against Kerri Delmonico and Carrie Rabuse. 

Draw

The quarter reprieve went to Kathrin Blanch and Martina Ondrejkova. The seasoned team of Deirdre Redden and Trish Bloom won the reprieve in a tough 3-setter that closed out the competition at 7:30 p.m. Meredith Stravato and Carter Everitt beat tournament organizers Paula Fazli and Carolyn McCoy in the consolation final, and Barb Horne and Asa Nilsson had an encore performance, winning the consolation reprieve for the second year in a row.

A huge thanks to all of our volunteers and others:

Charlotte Gilet, for passing on all her wisdom, experience, and email lists.
Wende Shupe, captain of the hut captains:  There is no way the tournament could have run without you.  Six clubs, 36 teams, she kept us on track and on time.
Liz O’Connell managed the Wellesley hut to perfection.
Don Helm at Brae Burn was calm, cool and collected throughout (and he even learned to text!)
Jim and Debby Notman held down the fort at TCC until lunch, then came over to WGC to help some more.
Betsy Leggat staked out in the unfinished, unheated Pine Manor hut and got some great photos!
Wendy Yang, thanks so much for getting our terrific favors!!
Jill Rodday, for providing the beautiful olive oil sample gifts.
Natalie Sanders, for hosting 6 of our out of town players – and making breakfast.
Mary Mayotte, for hosting one of our teams from Rochester.
The gals at DDCC – Betsy, Diana, Vivi, Annie, for securing the Dedham courts at the last minute. 
All the helpers at Weston Golf for the beautiful lunch.
All the clubs:  The Country Club, Brookline/Pine Manor; Wellesley CC, Dedham CC, Brae Burn CC, and Weston Golf, for providing courts and huts.
Ann Sheedy for all her support as we fumbled through running our first tourney.
Rob Coster, APTA president, for coming to watch and lend his support.
Johan du Randt, our pro extraordinaire, for all his advice.
Most of all: To the wonderful women who came to play, didn’t complain in the rain, for all your supportive words and hugs—you know who you are—this is for you:

GBO Jingle – 2012

(to the tune of Jingle Bells)

REFRAIN:     GBO, GBO, GB all the way
                    Oh what fun it is to play on a wet December day, hey!
                    GBO, GBO, GB all the way
                    Oh what fun it is to play on a wet December day.

Racing to the courts, my partner by my side
It's 7:42, I thought we’d have a bye
We pass a coffee shop, oh dear, should we go in?
Want the joe but missing start time really is a sin  OHHH

REFRAIN

Hitting off the screens, blitzing like a pro
Volley, drive, and overhead, we're getting in the flow
The points are long and tight, we move in total synch
And then we lose the game, the set, the match in just a blink  OHHH

REFRAIN

We've played our matches 3, our muscles are a mess
I'm glad we’re out of back draw play, I really must confess
We're hangin' in the hut, watching finals play
Drinking vino, just a teeno, running through the day  OHHH

REFRAIN

The highlight is the game, but truly we all know
The game's about the people and the friendships that we grow
So drive on home tonight, the replay in your head
And know the paddle world's alright, as you lay your head to bed.  OHHH

REFRAIN