\n Olivia Nicholls, who grew up in Acle and learned to play at the village tennis club, partnered with Slovak Tereza Mihal\u00edkov\u00e1 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Her mother, Ann Nicholls, a retired nurse and former coach at Acle Tennis Club, was bursting with pride.\n<\/p>\n
\n “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.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Acle’s Olivia Nicholls in action in the final (Image: Adam Davy\/PA Wire)\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Sunday’s victory in the HSBC Championships made the heartbreak worthwhile.\n<\/p>\n
\n Olivia herself was visibly moved by winning on home turf.\n<\/p>\n
\n “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].\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cTo have a women’s event here and to even be playing, let alone winning, is honestly incredible.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Acle woman Olivia Nicholls (right) and her doubles partner Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova (left) celebrate after winning (Image: Adam Davy\/PA Wire)\n<\/p>\n
\n Acle is fast establishing itself as a remarkable nursery for tennis talent.\n<\/p>\n