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Frederika Adam. photo by Michael Do
ing out much more positive. She worked Cornwallis from
corner to corner, not giving up free points and was able to
break Cornwallis’ rhythm.
Early in the set, Cornwallis’ back went, after she
tripped on her feet during a point while trying to retrieve
yet another tight ball in the corner. This allowed Hird to
get her first lead in the match. At 4/3 Hird, they played off
a long point of chase worse than three. Hird once again hit
perfect length to win the chase and the game. Hird now
led 5/3.
Clearly, Cornwallis’ lack of mobility was a huge factor,
which Hird, recognizing Cornwallis’ pain, capitalized on.
One had to wonder what was going on in Cornwallis’
mind. Realizing that she could not go a third set, she knew
she had to win the set. Stuck on the receiving end, Cornwallis
told herself to “hit for length and the rest will happen.”
Hird, on the other hand, realized she had an opportunity
to win and the nerves set in. Cornwallis won four
straight points on return of serve to go 4/5. Cornwallis
chased down every ball, dropping only two points over the
next two games to win the set and the title 6/1, 6/5.
Asked later what made the difference, Cornwallis replied,
“That she played a determined and gritty match”.
Comparing the final to the 1993 World Championship in
Bordeaux, Cornwallis remembered beating the then World
Champion, Penny Lumley, in the semifinals to play Sally
Jones in the final. Cornwallis lost the match to the more
experienced Jones.
Sixteen years later, the roles had changed with Cornwallis
“a veteran of the old guard” taking on the less experienced
Hird. Why did she win? Cornwallis attributes the
win to experience, being strategically more aware and good
2008-2009 Annual Report
serving. From her first appearance in Newport in 1991, to
now, Cornwallis, then an aggressive 16 year old, had matured
into an experienced veteran.
After a short break for lunch, Hird and Cornwallis
teamed up to play the #2 seeds — Amy Hayball and Juliette
Lambert. Cornwallis and Hird won the match easily
in straight sets. Cornwallis acknowledged that they could
easily have hurt them because of her own lack of mobility.
Cornwallis struggled in the backhand corner and was unable
to change direction. In the end, though, Cornwallis
and Hird were simply the better team.
Ana Radeljevic won the Singles Plate competition over
Emily Boenning, 10/7. Jen and Beth Winthrop won the
Doubles Plate over Caroline Lippincott and Petra Napolitano,
10/3.
While Cornwallis and Hird were the top story, there
were other story lines from the week. Roberto Coin, led by
their president and co-founder, Peter Webster, was the Presenting
Sponsor. In addition to financial support, the company
provided diamond tennis necklaces for the winners.
Having sponsored the 2007 World Doubles Championship,
the Ladies’ World Championship was their second venture
into the game. All involved were grateful for their support.
Other corporate sponsors included Harrow Sports, Pol
Roger, Portobello Jewelers and PDQ Printing. The United
States Court Tennis Association (USCTA) and the United
States Court Tennis Preservation Foundation (USCTPF)
headlined the US sponsorship. The two organizations, in
combination with many individual sponsors, provided
funds and prize money, allowing the organizers to keep
entry fees reasonable.
The other story was the players themselves. For many
it was their first World Championship, for others, it was
one of many! Credit has to be given to all who entered, for
half the battle is just entering.
Part of playing is
just learning where you
are in the game, getting
on the court with better
players and match time.
No matter what the
result was, each woman
should be proud to have
taken that step. After all,
how many people can
say that they have competed
in a World Championship?
The World Cham-
Brenda Nardillilo. photo by Michael Do
pionship was chaired by
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