Olivia Nicholls, who grew up in Acle and learned to play at the village tennis club, partnered with Slovak Tereza Mihalíková to beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-7(4), 10-5 in the final in London on Sunday.
Her mother, Ann Nicholls, a retired nurse and former coach at Acle Tennis Club, was bursting with pride.
“What a day,” she said. “To be playing on home soil and winning such a big tournament is amazing. For the work they put in, I’m so pleased for them – it’s a team effort.”
Acle’s Olivia Nicholls in action in the final (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Ann travelled to Abu Dhabi earlier this year to watch Olivia and Tereza compete in the Mubadala Open final, where the pair narrowly lost on a tie-break.
Sunday’s victory in the HSBC Championships made the heartbreak worthwhile.
Olivia herself was visibly moved by winning on home turf.
“This is honestly so surreal,” the 31-year-old said. “I grew up watching this. I used to come home from school and turn this on. I was inspired by Tim [Henman] and Andy [Murray].
“To have a women’s event here and to even be playing, let alone winning, is honestly incredible.”
Acle woman Olivia Nicholls (right) and her doubles partner Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova (left) celebrate after winning (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Acle is fast establishing itself as a remarkable nursery for tennis talent.
Olivia attended Acle Academy, as did wheelchair tennis world number one Alfie Hewett – the Grand Slam champion from nearby Cantley.
Ann Nicholls said the children at Acle Tennis Club look up to her daughter as a role model.
“If she can come from humble beginnings, there’s no reason why those other children from Acle can’t progress too,” she said.
Olivia heads to Berlin this week for the VANDA Pharmaceuticals Berlin Tennis Open, another WTA 500 grass-court event, before Wimbledon beckons.