Day One
It was a highly successful second day for the B2 and B3 members of the Great Britain visually impaired tennis team on Tuesday with 11 wins out of 12 round-robin matches, including one walkover, in Spain.
Brenda Cassell had a super day, winning all three of her matches 4-0 to top her round-robin pool. Cassell defeated Rosion Demody of Ireland, Poland’s Kamila Wroblewska and Genemarie Richards of Australia.
Brenda Cassell also went into the knockout stages of the women’s B2 singles having not lost a game in her pool matches. She maintained her perfect record with a clinical 6-0 quarter-final victory over Mayumi Kita.
Day Two
On Wednesday, Cassell dropped her first games of the week in her semi-final, but still held on to beat Adrianna Sanchez of Mexico 6-3. After going two games down Cassell finished with a flourish. She won five games in a row and ended with a good serve to book her place in Thursday’s women’s B2 singles final against Chizuko Hara.
Chris Baily and Brenda Cassell added more history to the British challenge in Spain this week as they became the first Great Britain visually impaired tennis team players to reach finals on the international stage.
Day Three
Cassell claimed the silver medal in the women’s B2 singles on the last day of competition at the Inaugural International Blind Tennis Tournament.
Cassell faced Chizuko Hara of Japan in the women’s B2 singles final, with Hara winning 4-1, 4-2. Hara controlled some long points to win the opening set and despite Cassell playing some great points in the second set the Japanese player’s consistency earned her the win.
“The better player won today and it wasn’t me,” Brenda Cassell shared after losing to Japan in the finals. “I have to settle for the runner up spot. Japan took the Championship Trophy and the World No1 ranking. They really do deserve it. Well done to them.”
The World rankings will be out in a few days and will confirm Brenda Cassell (B2) Ladies Singles World No2.
“What an experience this has been for me and the entire GB Team,” Cassell said.
We congratulate Brenda on her world ranking and wish her success in her future endeavours.
Get updates at https://www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/follow-great-britain-visually-impaired-tennis-team-spain/
