Brenda Cassell Wins Visually Impaired Tennis Tournament in Gibraltar

Montserratian Brenda Cassell, who is visually impaired won the finals of a new tournament on the island of Gibraltar last week.

Cassell was part of a UK team of visually impaired players who spent last week at Gibraltar’s Sandpits Lawn Tennis Club competing with other players there.

Cassell, who has bilateral optic neuropathy, got through the round robbin, winning all of four of her matches. Jack  Fisher, who she met in the finals had also secured his spot by winning all his matches. They played one set, which Cassell won 6-2.
Samantha Sacramento, Minister of Equality handed out the trophies to the finalists. It is hoped that the competition, which was the brainchild of Fisher, will become an annual one for Gibraltar.
Cassell, has been playing tennis competitively for the past four years. In 2017, she made it to the women’s final at the Blind Tennis Tournament in Spain.

Regional visually impaired tennis tournaments are hosted across the UK, giving opportunities for people who are blind or partially sighted to play tennis. The visually impaired version of the game is played on a smaller court than usual, with a lower net with an audible ball so that the player can hear it bounce. Depending on your sight, you’re allowed up to three bounces before returning.

Cassell said she would love to see similar competitions in the Caribbean for visually challenged tennis lovers.

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