Tournament Recap: USTA National Women’s Grass Court Championships, 35-95s, Philadelphia, PA
How to Host a National Championship (Germantown-Style)
Want to know how to put on an exceptional national championship? Just ask the folks at Germantown Cricket Club. The 2025 edition of the National Grass Courts was nothing short of spectacular.
From the courtside amenities—iced towels, Gatorade, pickle juice, salty snacks, orange slices, and more—players couldn’t have been better cared for. Hydration and sodium: fully covered. The Wednesday evening Happy Hour featured an open bar and a spread of appetizers generous enough to pass for dinner (and let’s be honest, for many of us, it was). And then there was the actual player dinner—easily the best meal served at any tournament, anywhere. Picture beautifully prepared vegetables, a wide range of well-seasoned proteins, and elegant presentation. Kudos to George, Germantown’s culinary wizard—can we hire him as a Level 1 tournament consultant?
On the admin side, the tournament ran as smoothly as the grass was… well, mowed. Sure, there were a few bald spots, but let’s just say they added character—and maybe a touch of home-court advantage to whoever figured them out first. Anne-Marie Devlin, Germantown’s Director of Tennis and Tournament Director, and Melissa Jackson, referee extraordinaire, handled communications and scheduling with grace, patience, and good humor—even through rain delays. Gentle reminders about club access areas were delivered diplomatically (and deservedly). Pro tip for future players: when in doubt, ask. Let’s all try to remember that one. Behind the scenes, it took a village to make the event shine. Countless volunteers helped line up sponsorships and coordinate logistics, and club members generously gave up court time for the week. Special shoutout to Nancy Post, who worked tirelessly to arrange complimentary housing for players—a huge win.
So, spread the word and mark your calendars for July 2026—you won’t want to miss this premier event on the national calendar. Germantown sets the bar high. And then they raise it.