Gabriela Lee wins Women’s Pro Classic as Pelham Racquet Club wraps spring season

Published 7:33 pm Wednesday, May 28, 2025

By Dave Domescik

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Pelham Racquet Club capped off a remarkable spring tournament slate with the thrilling conclusion of the Women’s Pro Classic W50, where Gabriela Lee of Romania was crowned singles champion after a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory over American Robin Anderson in the finals on Sunday, May 25.

The Women’s Pro Classic, held from Monday, May 19 to Sunday, drew rising professional players from across the globe as part of the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour. The stakes were high with $50,000 in prize money and valuable WTA ranking points on the line, making it an exciting event for competitors and fans alike.

Lee’s path to the title was anything but easy. After a gutsy comeback win in the semifinals over Spain’s Alicia Herrero Linana by a score of 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, she surged through the final with precision and confidence, besting Anderson with a relentless style of play. Anderson battled past Lea Ma in the semis to get to the finals but fell short.

Along with the singles tournament, doubles action concluded Saturday with the top-seeded duo of Anna Brooks and Petra Hule taking home the title after a 6-1, 7-6(4) win over Herrero Linana and Anna Rogers.

Along with the excellent play on the court, fans were treated to fun-filled activities off the court as well. HealthMarkets Night on Thursday, May 22 brought giveaways, beer tickets and free hats for the first 100 spectators. Saturday, May 24 featured a morning tennis social for locals, a live DJ, food trucks and major prize giveaways, adding to the Pelham Racquet Club’s ability to provide great competition and intentional community events.

In addition to the Pro Classic, the club successfully hosted the National Women’s 65-95 Tournament from Tuesday, April 1 to Sunday, April 6, which featured elite senior athletes from across the country. Pelham Racquet Club also hosted the USTA National Husband/Wife Tournament from Friday, April 25 to Tuesday, April 29, which brought married doubles teams from around the nation competing in combined age brackets.

Pelham Racquet Club Director Chaney Mills praised her team for executing a packed calendar of high-caliber events.

“This is a lot back-to-back, and we always ask ourselves if we can and should do it,” Mills said. “This staff always rises to the challenge—we love bringing top-tier tennis to Pelham.”

Abby Gobbels, a student at the University of Alabama who was part of the ball crew for this year’s Women’s Pro Classic tournament, discussed the impactful experience of being a part of a professional tournament.

“It’s really cool because when I think of ball kids I think of actual little kids who go out and do it at these big tournaments, but here it’s a cool way to get really close with all the players and see them up close,” Gobbels said. “They’ll sign your T-shirt, they’ll talk to you, so it’s just a great way to get involved, especially at this high of a level of a tournament.”

Gobbels also currently plays for Alabama’s club tennis team, and discussed as a tennis player the experience of being in close proximity with the professionals.

“It’s really cool because they show you what the highest level of the game is,” Gobbels said. “You can just see how hard they’ve worked in life… it’s really cool seeing the future generation (of tennis greats).”

Ryen Valentine, the head tennis pro at Pelham Racquet Club, explained the significance of hosting an ITF event in Pelham.

“I think it just brings a lot of great publicity to the city of Pelham, to Shelby County and to the club,” Valentine said. “We have players from all over the world who played at different universities across the country and in different countries all coming to Pelham and staying in Pelham to play tennis.”

According to Valentine, plenty goes in to the preparation process for an event of this scale.

“There’s a lot of amenities you have do for the players,” Valentine said. “The courts have to be in pristine condition, and they can’t be used for a while, so it’s a lot of work.”

Valentine further discussed the impact of the tournament not just on the city but the youth of Pelham as well.

“All the ball kids get to be on the court and watch these pro players firsthand, and they come away seeing how good they are,” Valentine said. “It inspires them to practice harder and spend more time on the court.”

With a newly renovated clubhouse and a passionate staff committed to promoting the game of tennis and inspiring future tennis players, the Pelham Racquet Club continues to make its mark on the tennis map both locally in Shelby County and beyond.

For more information on the Pelham Racquet Club, visit Pelhamracquetclub.com.

More Pelham Reporter

The Country Cattery hosts fundraising event

Pelham Senior Center hosts impactful spring trips

Seven local athletes named to North-South All-Star soccer squads, Chelsea’s Miller to coach boys North All-Stars

Ballantrae Golf Club hosting Father’s Day tournament

Print Article

  • Polls

    What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...