Missouri Valley

National Husband & Wife Doubles and Family Championships Highlight Great Weekend of Tennis

Sydney Hamilton | July 01, 2022

Overland Park Racquet Club recently hosted both the USTA National Husband & Wife Doubles Open and the USTA Missouri Valley Family Championship tournaments over the same weekend–July 17-19–and both events served up major excitement and matches to remember.


"The championship match of the National Husband & Wife Indoors was certainly very exciting. The Flemings showed what great champions they are by rallying for a three-set victory," said tournament director Scott Hanover of Robins, IA, residents BJ and Heather Fleming’s hard-fought win over Kirk and Victoria Fisher of Monroe, LA (4-6, 6-0, 6-4) in the deciding match of the tournament.

The Flemings are no strangers to the National Husband & Wife Doubles Open. They’ve won the event a few times now–as well as many others over the years–and have a few Gold Ball trophies to prove it. 

 

BJ Fleming and his daughter, Gabi, also took home top honors in the Father-Daughter Doubles event in the Family Championships during the same weekend. They defeated Mark Mahoney of Garnder, KS, and his daughter, Jenna, in the final of the round robin event with a score of 6-0, 6-1.

 

"The [Fleming’s] match culminated an awesome weekend of the National Husband & Wife Indoors and the Section Family Tournament,” Hanover continued. “We are eager to grow our participation numbers in 2023. Everyone should keep that Father's Day weekend open for 2023!"

Deb Fabrizius, President of USTA Heart of America, also played in the Husband & Wife Doubles Open with her husband, Steve. “We had a great time as this was the first tournament my husband, Steve, and I played together. It was wonderful [that] the tournament was back in [the Kansas City area] as we haven’t hosted it here in a few years. Getting it back meant a lot to our district. Scott Hanover always does a fantastic job running the tournaments. Plus, it was nice seeing players back out playing tournaments and families playing together.”

 

“The tournament was lighter on participants, but from those participants, we met new people in this circle you call tennis. And these people will always be one more connection for life and tennis,” Deb continued. “We had such a fun time, and Steve and I have even thought about traveling to play a few more tournaments!”

 

Please join us in congratulating the following players/teams on winning their events at the USTA National Husband & Wife Doubles Open and the USTA Missouri Valley Family Championship:

 

USTA National Husband & Wife Doubles Open

 

  • Husband-Wife Doubles: BJ Fleming, Robins, IA/Heather Fleming, Robins IA

  • Husband-Wife 100 & Over Doubles: Richard Perry, Kerrville, TX/Holly Perry, Kerrville, TX

  • Husband-Wife 120 & Over Doubles: Richard Perry, Kerrville, TX/Holly Perry, Kerrville, TX

  • Husband-Wife 140 & Over Doubles: Glen Spielbusch, Blue Springs, MO/Nancy Spielbusch, Blue Springs, MO

 

USTA Missouri Valley Family Championship

 

  • Father-Daughter Doubles: BJ Fleming, Robins, IA/Gabi Fleming, Robins, IA

 

USTA Heart of America would like to thank all participants for an incredible weekend of tennis! We look forward to seeing you out on the courts again soon.

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