Our first match was scheduled for Tuesday, and we faced a promising opening-round matchup against a young American team. We had previously played one of the girls in the first round of the Hilton Head tournament, so we came in with a clear game plan. As expected, they came out strong and fired up, playing with a nothing-to-lose mentality. Although we anticipated this, it still took some time for us to find our rhythm and establish control. Relying on our experience and recent success, we managed to turn the match around after nearly falling behind 0–3 in the first set. The match remained competitive throughout, as our opponents continued to fight hard and showed great resilience, even saving multiple match points. Ultimately, we were able to close the match on deuce at 5–3, winning 6–4, 6–3. While we were happy to advance, we knew we would need to elevate our level, as the next round would present a much tougher challenge.

In the second round, we faced an 18-year-old Brazilian ranked in the top 800 and a 24-year-old American ranked around 1150. We had crossed paths in several tournaments before, and now it was time to compete head-to-head. The first set proved challenging, as they slightly outplayed us while we worked to identify the most effective game plan. After making a few key adjustments, we came out strong and dominated the second set, shifting momentum firmly in our favor. Staying focused and continuing to apply pressure, we pushed the match into a deciding third-set tiebreak. From the very first point, we played relaxed yet assertive tennis. With the experience we’ve gained in tiebreaks these past few months, we committed to playing fearless and taking our chances.

We quickly built a lead in the tiebreak and carried that momentum through to a 10–4 win. The victory was especially meaningful, as it marked our third semifinal appearance, all within a month. Confidence was high, but we knew an even greater challenge awaited us in the next round against the second seeds. One player, known as the “Palm Tree” due to her height, was ranked around 600 and had beaten us earlier in the W35k in Orlando, alongside her partner, an up-and-coming junior already ranked in the top 600.

To call the match a battle would be an understatement. A large crowd gathered to watch, appreciating the high level of tennis on display. We were fully in the moment, focused on competing rather than outcomes or expectations. After dropping the first set once again, we made key tactical adjustments and became more comfortable with their playing styles and shot selection. The second set was extremely high quality, with both teams holding serve under pressure. At 6–5, we managed to break serve and force yet another third-set tiebreak.

Going into the breaker, the match felt completely up for grabs. We came out strong, executing key shots early to build momentum. Before we knew it, we were up 8–4 and firmly in control. Despite a few nerves, we stayed composed and closed out the match. Winning that point was surreal—earning a spot in the finals for the first time in our careers was something we could hardly believe. The hours that followed were filled with excitement, celebrating and sharing the moment with friends and family who had supported us throughout the week.

In the final, we faced a very experienced and accomplished team. One player was an American ranked around 150 in the world, partnered with an Estonian who is a former world No. 33. We were excited for the opportunity and ready to compete. Although we ultimately fell short, we put up a solid fight despite the scoreline not fully reflecting the level of the match. We lost 6–3, 6–2, but delivered a performance that the fans truly enjoyed.

Finishing the tournament as finalists was the perfect way to close out our year. Just one year ago, we had lost in the first round of a W15k, making this result even more meaningful. Given the challenges we’ve faced over the past few months, both health and financially related, this run exceeded anything we could have imagined. The hard work is paying off, and we’re heading into the new year motivated, confident, and excited to continue building on this momentum.

Points Earned: 23

Price Breakdown

• Hotel: $511

• Gas: $70

• Food: $130

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $751

• Total Earnings: $855

Following four tournaments without facing a seeded team in the opening round, it was only a matter of time before the draw presented one. In the round of 16, we were matched against a pair of American players ranked approximately 400 and 600 in the world and seeded #3. We had heard they were a strong and competitive team, but this was our first time competing against them.

This match was extremely close from start to finish. Both teams played with very few errors, making it a true battle of who could take the initiative and make the first aggressive move. Had we faced this team just a few weeks earlier, their powerful groundstrokes likely would have overwhelmed us. However, we have elevated our level considerably and improved our ball tolerance, allowing us to compete effectively with higher-ranked players.

We fought off two set points in the opening set and ultimately secured it 7–5. In the second set, we built a strong 4–1 lead, but struggled to maintain our level. Our ball tolerance dipped just enough for players of their caliber to work their way back into the match. We faced four additional set points, saved them to even the score at 5–5, but eventually dropped the set 5–7.

Heading into the super tiebreak, we knew it would be tightly contested and that neither team would back down. Once again, we earned an early lead at 8–3, but our opponents responded with heavy pressure and capitalized on a few of our break-downs. We were unable to close it out and fell 7–5, 5–7, 8–10.

This was a difficult loss to process, especially knowing we had multiple opportunities to defeat a team ranked inside the top 500 in the world. However, it was also encouraging—our level has clearly risen to match these higher-ranked teams. This performance gave us the confidence and reassurance that we are fully capable of competing at this level, something we needed after our Sumter tournament.

This tournament marked the end of our 5 week stretch, leading into Thanksgiving week. It gave us both a chance to take a few days off from tennis to regroup mentally and physically—though not for long, as we had another tournament scheduled for the week after Thanksgiving!

Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $40

• Total Earnings: $156

In the round of 16, we faced an unseeded team—yet one that looked stronger on paper. Their lineup featured a Romanian ranked 400 and an American ranked 700. After performing so well the week before, we felt no pressure heading into the match and started off loose and confident. It showed in the results. We came out on fire and quickly crushed their momentum. We made very few errors, and there wasn’t much they could do to slow us down. We took the win 6–2, 6–0 in what felt like an unbelievable match on our part. Our momentum was building, but so was our confidence in our shots, resulting in some very clean, very pretty tennis.

For the quarterfinals, we played a Romanian team ranked 1000 and 700. They currently played doubles together at LSU and had already taken out a seeded pair in their first match. The first set was neck and neck, with both teams holding serve. We earned an important break late in the set, allowing us to take it 6–4. Riding that momentum, we jumped out to a 5–1 lead in the second. But with nothing to lose, the girls came out swinging. They started going for unbelievable shots—and were executing them. It became difficult to shift the momentum back in our favor, but we found a way. At 5–4, on a deuce sudden-death point, we finally closed out the match, winning 6–4, 6–4.

Once again, we felt we had played a strong match. We may have allowed the momentum to swing too easily, but they didn’t roll over—they made us work for it, and that ultimately made us better. This win meant we were heading to our second-ever semifinals, and our second in a row!

Our semifinal matchup was never going to be easy. We were up against American twins ranked around 300 in the world. We had played them about a year earlier and remembered how difficult their pressure at the net had been to handle. Sure enough, that’s exactly what we ran into again. It felt like they were smothering us at the net, and we struggled to find comfortable ways to counter. The match felt very similar to our previous semifinal, where our opponents rushed the net on nearly every ball—but this team had far better volleys. Despite playing as well as we could, there wasn’t much we could do in the moment to turn things our way. We lost 2–6, 1–6.

Even so, this tournament left us feeling more confident in our games than ever. We had now made back-to-back semifinals in W35Ks in Florida, which host some of the toughest competition. We were playing some of the best tennis of our careers, and our tournament streak wasn’t over yet. We went home on Friday with a few days to regroup and gear up for a local tournament in Boca Raton.

Points Earned: 14

Price Breakdown

• Gas: $55

• Food: $75

• Hotel: $295

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $465

• Total Earnings: $460

We entered the tournament with minimal expectations, which at times can work to our advantage. In the weeks leading up to the event, Madi had been managing some health issues and underwent a colonoscopy the Monday prior. We had a 50-50 chance of competing on Tuesday or Wednesday so we were grateful to receive a Wednesday first-round match. The additional day provided valuable time for her to rehydrate and recover.

We ended up with a pretty favorable draw. In the round of 32, we played a team from Mexico—one ranked around 500 in the world and the other just 16 and unranked. We had watched them compete in Sumter, SC, so we entered the match with a solid game plan. We started strong, taking control early and keeping pressure on them. Although they adjusted and pushed back in the second set, we worked through it and closed out the match 6–2, 6–4.

In the quarterfinals, we faced the same team that had beaten us in Hilton Head, SC. It was another tight battle, but knowing their tendencies helped us raise our level. Both teams adapted well to each other’s weaknesses, and the match stayed close throughout. The first set came down to 5–6, deuce, but with Madi still feeling the after-effects of her procedure, we dropped the set 5–7.

With lower expectations and less pressure in the second set, we played some of our best tennis, pulling out a 7–6 win to force a super tiebreaker. For those following our journey, you know we’d been on nearly a six-super-tiebreaker losing streak—so it felt like it was time to break it. The tiebreaker was another nail-biter, with neither team taking a clear lead, but with determination and focus we pulled through 10–7. That win put us into our first-ever W35k semifinal. We were thrilled with our performance and felt we were playing some of the best tennis of our careers.

In the semifinals, we faced a team we’d nicknamed “the Palm Trees.” Both players were over 6 ft tall and ranked around 800 in the world. They applied constant pressure with big serves and aggressive returns, keeping us on defense nearly every point. We struggled in the first set but made solid adjustments in the second; however, it wasn’t quite enough, and we lost 1–6, 6–7.

Considering everything leading up to this tournament, we couldn’t have been more proud of the result. Low costs, low pressure, and low expectations allowed us to relax and play freely—and it showed. This week proved how much better we compete without added stress. Up next was another W35k in Orlando!

Points Earned: 14

Price Breakdown

• Gas: $60

• Food: $100

• Hotel: $164

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $364

• Total Earnings: $460

On Sunday, October 26, we made the 2 hour drive to Sumter, stopping at Congaree National Park and visiting one of Madi’s best friends from high school who lives nearby. This tournament was another 15k, so we were curious to see what the level of competition would be in comparison to the previous tournament. Lately, it seems that the level of play is nearly the same between 15ks and 35ks.

In the round of 32, we were matched up against 2 girls who played for Clemson. One player, from Japan, was ranked around 400 in the world in doubles, while her partner was unranked, making them an unseeded team but still a very dangerous one. It was a tough draw for the first round. To make things more challenging, a cold front had moved in, and we played in 52-degree weather with light rain. Because the tournament was on clay, the drizzle didn’t stop play, but it certainly made the conditions difficult.

The other team came out firing, playing aggressively and keeping us on defense. By the second set, we were able to adjust and apply more pressure. Our ability to rally from the baseline against hard hitters has improved tremendously over the past few weeks; a team like this would have run us off the court not long ago. Even so, we lost 0–6, 4–6, and walked away with more questions than answers.

We left the court feeling that we had played the best tennis we possibly could, yet it still wasn’t enough. That was a frustrating realization and raised doubts about whether we can truly compete at this level. It feels as though we’ve reached the maximum level we can with the resources we currently have. But with three tournaments in Florida coming up in November, giving up wasn’t an option. All we could do was commit to playing our very best.

In the end, these two weeks were invaluable. They gave us time to develop our game further and reminded us how much progress we’ve already made. We were excited to head home and prepare for the upcoming Florida tournaments.

Points Earned: 0

Price Breakdown

• Gas: $42

• Food: $75

• Hotel: $439

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $596

• Total Earnings: $74

When we play W15ks instead of W35ks, we face far more younger girls and college players. In many ways, that younger crowd can be even more intimidating—the level of tennis today is exponentially higher than it was when we were their age. They also compete with little pressure and no fear of losing, which often frees them to play their best tennis.

In the round of 32, we faced a team of two young Americans—just 15 and 16 years old, both unranked. From the start, we both came out firing. Everything seemed to click, and our games synced up almost perfectly. The match ended up being fairly quick, and we closed it out 6–2, 6–0.

In the round of 16, we faced another duo of 16-year-olds who had just taken out a seeded team with ease. We weren’t sure what to expect from them on clay, but we were thoroughly impressed by the quality these young players brought to the table. They had some of the best reflexes we’ve faced to this day. In a well-fought match, we ended up losing 4–6, 3–6. Overall, we played fairly well and weren’t too disappointed with the result. The girls we lost too went on to reach the finals, where they lost in a super tiebreaker.

We were encouraged by the progress we saw in our skills, especially since we felt we played even better than we had in Punta Cana. We were also excited because the following week we’d be staying in South Carolina for a tournament in Sumter, giving us a few days to focus solely on our own training and preparation—something we don’t often get the chance to do. Despite winning only one match, this tournament went better than last year, and there were plenty of positive takeaways to build on moving forward.

Points Earned: 3

Price Breakdown

• Gas: $100

• Food: $250

• Hotel: $809

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $1,199

• Total Earnings: $148

The first two days were spent getting used to our new routine for the next few weeks and adjusting to the courts, which were red clay — a surface we hadn’t played on since Turkey! We both agree that red clay is our favorite, as it really complements our playing styles. However, the courts in Punta Cana weren’t in as good condition as the ones in Turkey. They were a bit rocky and worn down from recent hurricanes, so it took us some time to adapt to how they played.

On Tuesday, in the round of 16, we faced an unseeded team — an American and a Colombian ranked 1100 in the world. It took a little while for us to feel fully comfortable during the match. Not only were the courts rough, but the wind also made conditions tricky. Still, we felt more confident on court than we had during our last tournament in Mississippi. The hard work we’d put in over the past few weeks of training clearly paid off. Despite the challenges, we came away with a solid 6–3, 6–4 win and were thrilled to have our first match under our belts.

After our win, we had Wednesday off, which gave us another day to adjust to the conditions. We felt confident heading into our quarterfinal match on Thursday, where we faced the top seeds — an Italian and a Dutch player, both ranked 200 in the world. We started the match feeling strong, but that confidence quickly faded after just a few points. These girls hit the ball harder than anyone we’ve ever played in our entire careers. Even on clay, their pace was incredibly difficult to handle, let alone counter.We fought hard in every game but ended up dropping the first set 0–6. After that, we couldn’t help but laugh at how fast the ball was coming at us — it almost felt unreal. We decided to adopt the mentality of “all we can do is our best.” Gradually, we started reading their shots better and finding ways to counterpunch. Despite a much tighter second set, we eventually fell short 4–6.

After this match, we both agreed that this was one of the best teams we’ve ever faced. We walked away proud of how we competed and pleased with how the first tournament played out. We felt more confident in our abilities, learned some valuable lessons, and now had a couple more days to train and prepare for the second tournament.

After four days of relaxing at the resort and getting in some good practice, we were eager for the second tournament to begin. Once again, we had a fairly even first-round matchup, facing a team composed of a Colombian and an Argentinian ranked 800 in the world. And, somehow, both of them were lefties — this seems to happen to us a lot!

In the first set, we struggled to find our rhythm and fell short 2–6. It took some time to adjust to their lefty serves and figure out the right patterns to play the points. Fortunately, we’ve faced a lot of lefties recently and had a solid game plan — it was just a matter of executing it. In the second set, things started to click, and we managed to turn it around, winning 6–4. We were proud of how quickly we adapted our strategy and raised our level. After two grueling and competitive sets, the match came down to a super tiebreak, where we ultimately fell 7–10. Losing is never fun, but we both agreed that this was one of the most enjoyable matches we’ve ever played. It was drama-free, evenly matched, and came down to just a couple of points.

Sadly, that meant our tournaments were finished, and it was time to head home. After ten days, we booked our flight back and said goodbye to Punta Cana. We returned home feeling more confident in our game and proud of the progress we’d made with our new work schedule. The trip left us motivated and excited to keep improving and see how far we can go in the future.

Points Earned: 8

Price Breakdown

• Flights: $160 x 2 = $310

• Hotel: $100 x 2 x 10 =$2,000

• Bags: $70 x 4 =$280

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $2,630

• Total Earnings: $402

We had only been in our new place for about three weeks before deciding it was time to jump back into competition and get some practice in a tournament setting. So, on Sunday, August 3rd, we flew to Memphis, TN. The tournament was held in Southaven, MS, just across the border. There wasn’t an easy way to get there, so the trip required two flights and a rental car. After a long travel day, we finally arrived and managed to squeeze in a practice session on the tournament courts.

Coming from South Florida—where we’re practically at sea level and the ball moves slow—we immediately noticed a difference. In Southaven, the conditions were quite the opposite: the ball carried farther, and the courts played much faster. Our first hit didn’t feel great, but that was exactly why we came in early. We planned to get another session in on Monday to adjust before match play began.

After Monday’s hit, we felt much more prepared and were excited to finally get back to competing. In the round of 16, we faced an all-American team ranked around 1100 in the world. For once, we had a favorable draw. But as the match started, something felt off. We were definitely feeling the effects of not having trained or competed much over the past two months. Since moving to South Florida, most of our work had been focused on singles rather than doubles—and that showed. Being back in a cross-court, doubles setting felt almost foreign. Our timing was off, our positioning wasn’t sharp, and overall, we didn’t perform the way we had hoped. We lost 2-6, 2-6.

Still, despite the result, we knew this trip was necessary. We needed to get back into the tournament rhythm, and this was just the first step. It’s going to take time to rebuild our match readiness, but we’re motivated and know the direction we want to go. We’re heading home with a clear focus and a lot of excitement to build a new schedule centered around more consistent training. Next up: we’ve got our eyes on two tournaments coming up in Punta Cana. The next month will be all about putting in the work to prepare for those events.

Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown

• Flights: $250 x 2 = $500

• Bags: $70 x 4 =$280

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $820

• Total Earnings: $78

That Sunday, we practiced at Bloomington Country Club, where Madi grew up playing, which made for a special full-circle moment. It was such a great feeling to be back home for a tournament. On Monday, we drove over to Decatur to check out the tournament site and get a feel for the courts. For once, we were heading into a tournament as a seeded team—4th seeds!

There were a few factors leading into this tournament that made us hesitant about how it would go. One of the biggest was our equipment. We had both been using the same tennis racquets for four years—which, if you’re not familiar with tennis, is a really long time. Every time you restring a racquet, small pieces of graphite chip away, and over time the weight distribution shifts, which can significantly impact performance.

We had been saving up for months to finally invest in new racquets. The week before this tournament, we bit the bullet and each bought two new ones. Even though we got the exact same model as our old racquets, they felt completely different. Ideally, you want to switch racquets every two years at most. Since we pushed ours to four, they were well past their prime. We had started losing control over the ball and knew a change was necessary, but because we waited so long—mainly due to financial reasons—the transition was especially difficult.

When we hit on Sunday and Monday, we could already feel how different the new racquets were. During practice, they didn’t feel too bad, so we made the decision to use them in the tournament—after just two days of hitting with them. In hindsight, that turned out to be a huge mistake.

In the round of 16, we were matched up against an American team composed of sisters ranked around 1200 in the world. Their style of play was something we had never seen before. They hit every single ball aggressively and followed everything into the net. That constant pressure forced us to go for higher-risk shots just to stay in the points. But the moment we stepped into match play with our new racquets, we realized just how different it felt from practice. We had no feel on the ball—it felt like we didn’t even know how to play tennis. We lost this match 0–6, 0–6. It’s a match we’d love to erase from our memories forever.

That loss broke us mentally. We had finally gotten the chance to play a tournament close to home—and this was how we performed. On top of that, we were already emotionally and physically exhausted from two months of nonstop tournaments and packing up an entire house. Just three days after getting home from this trip, we were making the big move to Boca Raton, FL. Our minds were everywhere but on the court, and it showed.

After that match, we knew we needed to take a step back and get control of our lives off the court before we could continue competing. We had planned to drive to Kansas for a tournament the following week, but ultimately, we decided to skip it. Instead, we focused on adjusting to our new racquets and giving ourselves some space to reset.

We took a weekend trip up to Chicago to visit Anastasia’s family and train with her coach there. That week turned into the mental reset we desperately needed. We were surrounded by people who love and support us, and it reminded us that—no matter how bad one tournament feels—we're not alone. It helped us realize that while this loss hurt deeply, we still have so many people rooting for us.

This is a tournament we’ll try our best to forget, but the lessons will stay with us. When we return to the tournament circuit, we’ll be more mentally prepared and emotionally grounded. This journey isn’t easy. We hit a breaking point—and that’s okay. What matters now is how we come back from it.

Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown

• Flights: $250 x 2 = $500

• Bags: $70 x 4 =$280

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $820

• Total Earnings: $78

With this being a W35k, the competition was definitely a step up, and we were anxious to see our draw. When it was finally posted, we were relieved to find that we wouldn’t be facing a seeded team in the first round. Instead, we were matched up against a duo we were familiar with—two American players who, while solid, were not yet ranked. Even better, we had previously practiced with one of them at Saddlebrook, so we came into the match with a strategy in mind. That familiarity gave us some confidence—and, for the first time in a while, we were finally playing against two right-handed players!

The match itself wasn’t one of our cleanest performances. We came out making more unforced errors than usual and struggling to find our rhythm early on. Something just felt a little off. That being said, having played so many matches recently really worked in our favor. Even without our best stuff, we were able to problem-solve on court, adjust as needed, and figure out what it would take to get the win. Our growing experience gave us the confidence to stay composed and trust our instincts. In the end, we came through with a solid 6–3, 6–3 victory. Not our prettiest match—but a win we earned by staying steady and playing smart when it counted.

In the quarterfinals, we found ourselves up against a team we were fairly familiar with. While we hadn’t played them before, we had seen them around at numerous tournaments, so there was a level of recognition and respect going in. Of course, in classic fashion, we were once again matched up against the #2 seeds. This team featured a Swiss player ranked WTA #350 and Plekhanova, a Canadian ranked #480—a strong, experienced pair with solid results.

We went into the match feeling fairly confident, thanks to the preparation and momentum we’d built over the past few weeks. But that confidence was quickly put to the test. From the very first game, the #2 seeds came out incredibly aggressive, taking control of points early and putting pressure on us any time we showed hesitation. Their pace and precision caused us to press, and we started making errors. They took the first set 6–2, however, we knew exactly what adjustments we needed to make heading into the second set.

In the second set, we made the right adjustments and put ourselves in a position to turn the match around. Both teams raised their level—matching each other in aggression, intensity, and execution. Every point felt like a battle, and the momentum swung back and forth throughout the set. It all came down to a tiebreaker. We saved one match point and even had a set point of our own, but couldn’t quite close it out. We ended up dropping the breaker 8–10, and with it, the match.

Once again, we found ourselves so close against a top team. And honestly, that seems to be the theme lately. We keep putting ourselves in positions to win against strong opponents—but we haven’t quite broken through yet. We’re patiently waiting for the day where we no longer say, “we were so close,” but instead can finally say, “we did it.”

This journey on the pro circuit is anything but easy—mentally and physically. The highs are exhilarating, but the lows can be tough to navigate. Still, we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunities we’ve had so far, the experience we’re gaining, and the lessons we’re learning with every match. We know progress doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard right away, but we’re committed to the process. With each tournament, we’re getting closer, stronger, and smarter—and we truly believe that breakthrough moment is coming.

Points Earned: 8

Price Breakdown

• Gas: $100

• Food: $50

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $190

• Total Earnings: $123

Since Orlando is only about an hour and a half away, we were able to avoid hotel costs, which helped us save on expenses. We took off work the Monday before the tournament to make the drive and get a feel for the courts. This particular event was held at the USTA National Campus, a venue we hadn’t played at before—and it’s massive, with a total of 98 tennis courts!

Of course, playing a summer tournament in Florida isn’t for the weak. On Tuesday morning, just as we were getting ready to drive over for our match, we noticed all matches had been suspended at 10 a.m. Confused, we contacted the tournament director, who informed us that everything was paused due to extreme heat. According to WTA rules, if the heat index reaches 96°F or higher, all play must be suspended. Play didn’t resume until 6 p.m. that day—meaning no doubles matches were played on Tuesday at all.

Wednesday brought another heat index delay, although this time it only lasted a few hours. Our match was eventually scheduled for 7 p.m., which meant a long day of waiting and trying to stay mentally ready. Going into this W15k, we were hopeful for a more favorable draw. But as has become a pattern for us, "easy draw" wasn't in the cards. In the first round, we were matched up against the #2 seeds—a team composed of a Romanian player ranked around WTA #800 and a Japanese player ranked #700. On top of that, both of them were left-handed. Facing even one lefty in doubles is unusual, so to go up against an all-lefty team for the second time in a row felt like déjà vu. Fortunately, having just played a similar team recently in our last Boca Raton tournament, we came into the match confident and ready.

The first set was tight, with both teams holding serve consistently, but we managed to break at a key moment and took it 6–4. That win seemed to light a fire under our opponents, who came out in the second set with a much heavier, spin-focused game—classic lefty tennis. Suddenly, the court felt lopsided with three lefties and one righty. Their change in tactics threw off our rhythm, and we struggled to adjust quickly enough. They ran away with the second set 2–6, sending us into yet another super tiebreak. Again seems like déjà vu. We fought hard, giving it everything we had, but ultimately fell short, losing the tiebreak 6–10. That marked our third straight super tiebreak loss, all with the exact same score: 6–10. A tough pill to swallow, but also a sign that we're consistently just a few key points away.

This loss hit hard. We had a real opportunity—a winnable match against the #2 seeds, who ended up winning the entire tournament. Skill-wise, we truly believed we were the better team. But once again, the mental side of the game got in the way. After losing so many super tiebreakers recently, it's tough not to carry that baggage into the next one. We played the tiebreak afraid to lose instead of excited to win, and that shift in mindset made all the difference. Hopefully we can make that much needed adjustment soon and can end our super tiebreaker losing streak.

Still, as painful as this loss was, we didn’t walk away empty-handed. We learned a lot about how to handle a team with two lefties—a rare but clearly recurring challenge for us. We realized we need to shorten the court and play more through the middle to take away their ability to create angles. That’s now something we’re committed to drilling in practice, especially given how likely it is we’ll run into another lefty duo soon.

The South Florida tournament series isn’t over just yet—we’ve got one more tournament in Orlando next week, and we’re heading into it with clearer focus, a fresh tactical plan, and the determination to finally flip one of these close matches in our favor.

Total Points Earned: 0

Price Breakdown

• Gas: $100

• Food: $50

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $190

• Total Earnings: 47

In the Round of 16, we drew a tough matchup against an American duo ranked around #400 and #500 in the world at the time. Despite the challenge, we came out firing and got off to a quick start, grabbing an early lead and holding onto it to take the first set.

In the second set, the momentum started to shift. Our opponents made some smart adjustments to their game plan, and it took us a bit too long to respond. Tennis moves fast, and the ability to adapt in the moment is crucial — something we’re still learning to master. Before we knew it, we were in a deciding third-set tiebreak.

It was a battle, but a few key points made the difference, and we found ourselves on the losing end of a close one, dropping the breaker 6–10. These are the kinds of losses that sting the most — the ones where you’re right there, toe-to-toe with top-tier players, and just a couple of points decide the outcome.

Still, there's a lot to take away from this match. We proved to ourselves once again that we can compete with highly skilled and experienced teams. Every defeat is a chance to grow, and we’re using this one as fuel to keep improving for the tournaments ahead.

Total Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown

• Hotel: $0 (thanks to wonderful friends)

• Gas: $200

• Food: $100

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $340

• Total Earnings: $156

We checked into a hotel near the tournament site and dove into our usual routine: a solid practice session and signing up for the doubles draw. The courts felt great, and we were pumped for the competition. But when the draw dropped that evening, we got hit with a curveball—we didn’t make it in. Instead, we were the number one alternates. Confused, we dug into the rankings and saw we had a better cumulative ranking than one of the accepted pairs. Something didn’t add up.

Thankfully, the tournament supervisor took the time to explain everything. Turns out, doubles draws factor in singles rankings too—a detail we had no clue about. Though disappointed, we put our names on the alternate list and hoped for the best.

Then, Florida weather struck. Torrential rain canceled all matches the next day, delaying the tournament. By Wednesday, with no guarantee of getting in and no hotel left to stay in, we had no choice but to head home.

After a draining 5-hour drive and barely unpacking, Anastasia decided to check the draw one last time before bed. While looking at the draw, she saw that one of the teams had a slot open next to it and it said alternates on it.

Within seconds, she sprinted to Madi’s room, and soon after, Madi was on the phone with the supervisor. If we could be back in Boca by 1:30 PM the next day, the spot was ours. Chaos ensued. We scrambled to call out of work (awkward, since we’d just told our boss we were coming back), lined up a sitter for Guinness, and got ready for one more shot at competition and an opportunity to earn more points!

We left home again at 7 AM, handed Guinness off to the sitter and drove down to Boca Raton. We made it just in time—20 minutes to warm up before stepping onto the court to face a really high level team. An American who won NCAA singles championships 2 years ago, and her partner from Spain who is currently ranked #400 in the world. Challenging matchup and they were not even seeded at the tournament, that is how high the level was at this 35k.

Two games in it started to rain and the match was delayed 25 minutes. We remained focused and took on adversity as a challenge. 

The first set was very close. Everyone held their serve comfortably. Then at 5-5, we found our opening—broke serve, went up 6-5, and earned FOUR set points. After a couple of bad errors and built up pressure, the momentum shifted quickly and all of a sudden we were trailing behind until we lost the 1st set 7-6. Very disappointing at the moment but we still had a lot of tennis ahead of us. Our momentum and confidence only grew in the 2nd set and soon enough we won the 2nd set without even realizing it. To be completely honest: we didn’t quite regroup fast enough for the deciding 10-point breaker. They came out swinging, we couldn’t match the fire quick enough, and it ended 10-6. It was quite heartbreaking but what a journey. 

From being left out of the draw, to getting in at the last minute, to nearly taking down one of the strongest teams there, we walked away with a WTA point, a ton of hard-earned lessons, and proof that we belong at this level.

Total Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown

• Hotel: $65 (thanks to hotel points)

• Gas: $200

• Food: $100

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $405

• Total Earnings: $156

After the long drive, we slept in until about noon and when we went to practice, we came to a shocking realization. Leading up to this tournament we had been working crazy hours, even crazier than usual. This tournament marked the start of our 6 tournament run in the span of 2 months. We worked hard racking in the money to ensure we would be able to afford these tournaments. Due to being so busy, we managed to overlook a somewhat big detail about this tournament. It was on clay…

Thinking the tournament was on hard courts, neither of us packed our clay shoes. This resulted in us spending most of Sunday hopping store to store trying to find some clay shoes. It was no easy task! After about 3 hours, we ended up finding a pair that we had never worn before and were slightly nervous at the change. After purchasing the shoes snd trying them out during Sunday’s practice, we were pleasantly surprised at our new Head All Court shoes. We almost liked them better than the shoes we left at home :P

To our advantage, this tournament provided players with an opportunity to earn additional money on Monday. We both participated in a 2.5 hour pro am event which consisted of us playing points against the women’s league teams. This event allowed us to not only earn $110 each but it also allowed us to become close with some of the ladies resulting in a larger crowd at our match later on.

When the draws posted late Monday, we were shocked to find out that we didn’t play until Wednesday. It is uncommon, however, some tournaments split the doubles draw in half causing 8 teams to play on Tuesday and 8 teams to play on Wednesday. Having another day off allowed for us to connect with one of the moms from the clinic and set up a private lesson with her daughter. Through this connection, we were able to earn another $100 total for an hour hit. These opportunities prevented us from spending too much on this tournament and allowed us to not stress too much!

On Thursday, we faced a 16yr old junior player from the local club in Jackson, MS who partnered with a 15 yr old from Russia. As a result of facing a hometown girl, we had a large crowd of about 100 people. Although, no one was rooting for us. To make things more interesting, the wind was clocking in at 22mph with 41mph wind gusts. This made for some interesting tennis.

Despite the conditions, both of our games just clicked that day. We came out putting pressure on these girls, ending almost every point at the net. This was a type of pressure we could tell these younger girls had yet to face. Playing almost perfect tennis, we won the first set 6-2. Expecting these girls to adjust in the second set, we came out with the mid set that it was 0-0 and that we needed to keep the pressure. We succeeded at this goal, completely breaking these girls down. We ended up winning the match 6-2, 6-0. After the match, we were in agreeance that we had played our best tennis ever. Both of our games were “on” and we were complimenting each other so well. After this successful showing, we were ready to face the 2nd seeds on Thursday.

After the windy conditions on Wednesday, we were hoping Thursday would be better. Sadly, this was not the case. The wind was a consistent 25mph the entire match. In the round of 16, we faced the 2nd seeds from Serbia and Slovakia ranked 300 and 900.

These girls came out applying pressure on us which we were not prepared for. It was like rolls were reversed this match. Especially in the wind, it made it hard for us to counter and keep the ball away from the net person. The points were very unconventional and it was very difficult to have a strategy due to the conditions. We lost the first set 3-6 and actually went down 0-3 in the second set pretty fast. After resetting and agreeing to just go back to the basics and not over complicate anything, we battled back to 4-5. We unfortunately fell short 4-6 in the second. In contrast to yesterday, we did not play our best tennis. We were better than these girls, however, we were outplayed that day.

Despite our loss, we needed to be happy about getting a first round win at a W35k and also about getting our first win of the year. This win would help us pick up 8 WTA points and also help us get ranked in the top 1,000. This tournament was a great way to kick off our streak of multiple tournaments. On Friday, we made the 9hr drive back home to Wesley Chapel and on Sunday we would hit the road to Boca Raton, FL.

Total Points Earned: 8

Price Breakdown

• Hotel: $773.9

• Gas: $73.5

• Groceries + food: $150

• Tournament Entry: $20 x 2 =$40

• Total Cost: $1037.4

• Total Earnings: $526

After seeing the competition at this tournament we were excited when we heard we got into the draw. With Indian wells coming up, numerous high ranked players (such as the 45th in the world) were playing this tournament as a warm up.

We don’t have the best of luck when it comes to where we are placed in the draw. We had a tough matchup in the round of 16 for our first match back. We faced the 3rd seeds who were ranked 150 & 500. At the start of the match we were slightly caught off guard by the level of tennis. It’s been a couple of months since we last competed! We quickly went down 0-3 due to the power and consistency of these girls. However, we found a way to adjust faster than we normally can matching their pace and aggressiveness. We lost the 1st set 3-6 and were feeling confident going into the 2nd set. In the 2nd, we had winning opportunities at 3-2 40-30. Without going into too much detail, the referee on our court ended up costing us that game with some of the worst calls we’ve ever experienced in our pro career. We kept fighting and went down 4-5 where the ref once again cost us a crucial point. We ended up losing the match 3-4, 4-6 feeling frustrated with how close we were.

Despite the loss, we were very pleased with how we played. Madison’s leg was feeling good, allowing her to move better than usual, and resulting in us playing even better than we did last year. This team played extremely well causing us to have to pull out our best tennis. Looking at all of our stats, we were neck and neck on everything except our ability to convert break points (1 of 7) which is something we need to work on. This team went on to win the tournament and beat the 45th in the world in the finals. This shows us how close we are to winning one of these tournaments, if only we could catch a break in the draw. Time to get back to the drawing board and prepare for the next tournament at the end of March. Our total trip cost was $1463 while our total earnings was $156. Our tournament recap will be posted on our website soon!

Total Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown:

• Flight: 390 x 2 = $780

• Bags: 35 x 4 = $140

• Rental Car: $273

• Groceries: $120

• Gas: $110

• Total Cost: $1,463

• Total Earnings: $156