Grandmas, 87 and 89, unexpectedly find themselves in the doubles final at Wimbledon
- 9 months ago
Meet the 89-year-old great grandma and her 87-year-old tennis partner who have unexpectedly found themselves in the doubles final at Wimbledon.
Zovita Moon, 89, and Liz Simmons, 87, have only been playing as a duo for two weeks - and six games.
But despite Zovita breaking both wrists and Liz overcoming a quadruple heart bypass they are heading to the All England Club on Saturday for the over 85s final.
Gran-of-12 Zovita, who is preparing for her 90th birthday, said she's nervous but excited about taking to the court with her friend from Limpsfield Tennis Club.
Liz, gran-of-seven, a former county player and retired secretary puts their skills on the court down to the odd glass of wine - or cup of tea - they have after practice.
Having been paired up by Zovita's daughter, the pair applied for the tournament expecting to have to battle through the heats.
But there are so few competing members of the Lawn Tennis Association who are over 85, they were fast tracked straight to the finals at the British Masters Closed Grass Court Championships on Saturday.
Zovita, a widow, from Oxted, Surrey, said: “I’m nearly 90 and I'm just playing tennis - I just play two or three times a week with my friends.
“I just enjoy being out there and it gets me out the house.
“My husband died six years ago and it’s very easy when you’re on your own not to go out.
“I suppose [playing at Wimbledon] is quite a cool thing to do – this is a one off and I'm going to go there and enjoy myself and I just hope I don’t get too nervous, and I hope I hit the ball.
“I've never had any coaching and now it would be much too late to have any.”
Liz, also from Oxted, added: "I thought this year I would like to get back into some competitive tennis - I enjoy that more than a friendly knockabout.
"I was looking for a partner and Zovita's daughter heard I was doing this and said Zovita would love to join in.
"We get on well and enjoy playing together - we just want to see how we can do."
Zovita, who used to work in HR, first joined Limpsfield Tennis Club in her late 30s in 1971, where she made good friends.
Following retirement in 1998 she started playing more regularly to keep active and social.
Despite being two months away from 90, Zovita says she thinks more older people should play tennis – saying if someone can hold a racket then they can go out and enjoy the sport.
She puts her good health down to eating well, drinking wine and not smoking.
And says despite breaking both wrists three years ago which left her unable to play until she had recovered, she’s never had a knee or hip replacement.
Now she believes she is the oldest female player at the club and says she enjoys seeing her friends and going out for a coffee or a glass of wine after a match.
She says her doubles partner Liz is a ‘steady and competitive player’ - but that she’ll just be there to enjoy herself.
Zovita Moon, 89, and Liz Simmons, 87, have only been playing as a duo for two weeks - and six games.
But despite Zovita breaking both wrists and Liz overcoming a quadruple heart bypass they are heading to the All England Club on Saturday for the over 85s final.
Gran-of-12 Zovita, who is preparing for her 90th birthday, said she's nervous but excited about taking to the court with her friend from Limpsfield Tennis Club.
Liz, gran-of-seven, a former county player and retired secretary puts their skills on the court down to the odd glass of wine - or cup of tea - they have after practice.
Having been paired up by Zovita's daughter, the pair applied for the tournament expecting to have to battle through the heats.
But there are so few competing members of the Lawn Tennis Association who are over 85, they were fast tracked straight to the finals at the British Masters Closed Grass Court Championships on Saturday.
Zovita, a widow, from Oxted, Surrey, said: “I’m nearly 90 and I'm just playing tennis - I just play two or three times a week with my friends.
“I just enjoy being out there and it gets me out the house.
“My husband died six years ago and it’s very easy when you’re on your own not to go out.
“I suppose [playing at Wimbledon] is quite a cool thing to do – this is a one off and I'm going to go there and enjoy myself and I just hope I don’t get too nervous, and I hope I hit the ball.
“I've never had any coaching and now it would be much too late to have any.”
Liz, also from Oxted, added: "I thought this year I would like to get back into some competitive tennis - I enjoy that more than a friendly knockabout.
"I was looking for a partner and Zovita's daughter heard I was doing this and said Zovita would love to join in.
"We get on well and enjoy playing together - we just want to see how we can do."
Zovita, who used to work in HR, first joined Limpsfield Tennis Club in her late 30s in 1971, where she made good friends.
Following retirement in 1998 she started playing more regularly to keep active and social.
Despite being two months away from 90, Zovita says she thinks more older people should play tennis – saying if someone can hold a racket then they can go out and enjoy the sport.
She puts her good health down to eating well, drinking wine and not smoking.
And says despite breaking both wrists three years ago which left her unable to play until she had recovered, she’s never had a knee or hip replacement.
Now she believes she is the oldest female player at the club and says she enjoys seeing her friends and going out for a coffee or a glass of wine after a match.
She says her doubles partner Liz is a ‘steady and competitive player’ - but that she’ll just be there to enjoy herself.