by Tori Townsend

Women’s Tennis Pioneer Carmen Lampe Boland

Born and raised in Forest Hills, N.Y., as a youngster Carmen’s “second home” was the West Side Tennis Club – the original USTA facility where more than 50 US Opens were played before the tournament moved to Flushing Meadows. Carmen’s father taught tennis at West Side, and this club is where her passion for the sport commenced. She joined the club in 1950 and has been a lifetime member.

After graduating from Rollins College where she attended on a full tennis scholarship, Carmen played professionally on what is today known as the WTA Tour from 1949-62. During this time, the women’s tour was considered amateur tennis because women were unpaid players. Among her career highlights were playing at Wimbledon in 1959 and losing to Margaret Newfield Dupont. When th US Open moved to Flushing Meadows in 1978, Carmen was invited to compete in the senior doubles competition.

After leaving the Tour Carmen remained very active in tennis. For more than 30 years, she has been officiating tournaments, including many US Opens. When it comes to tennis, Carmen has been involved with five-year-old children to college kids to seniors and everywhere in between. She simply loves the game.

At age 75, Carmen now volunteers with the Lee County Tennis Association, teaching Ralleyball to five and six-year-olds. She lives in Ft. Myers with Bob, her husband of many years. Bob and Carmen have three grown children (who all play tennis!) and four grand children.

“There has never really been a time that I haven’t been on the tennis court,” admits Carmen. “I like teaching because I am constantly meeting new friends; whether it be players coming back to the game and wanting to be refreshed, or others looking to start playing tennis at any age. This is a sport that you can keep up all your life and it keeps you in great shape. I know two 86-year-old women who I truly believe are staying young because of tennis.”