Tennis Serves as Therapy for Widow

For Maritoni Carlos of Dix Hills, it's less about the score and more about the journey.

Teaming up with fellow Dix Hills native Susan Basey in the 40-and-over division in the USTA Women's National Grass Court Championships in Forest Hills, the pair lost their opening round match 6-0, 6-1.

The loss wasn't too disconcerting for Carlos though. Three years after her husband passed away, she said the sport has put her in a much better state of mind both on and off the court.

"Tennis was my form of therapy when he passed on," said Carlos, who works at Fidelity National Title Group in Melville. "I hit the ball for the first time and there was nothing else like it for me. It released so much of the anger you have when you lose a loved one."

Carlos met Basey when she arrived as her employee at Fidelity. The two struck up a friendly work relationship, but it wasn't until the funeral for Carlos's husband that their bond truly began.

"I remember saying goodbye to her at the wake and thinking that I was somehow going to play a big part of this woman's life," said Basey.

Basey, a nationally ranked player in the Women's 50-and-over division, encouraged Carlos to pick up a racket in the aftermath. The pair now practice together three to four days per week at in Kings Park, working on doubles strategy for their matches, and compete in separate USTA leagues.

Although Carlos is quick to point out the disparity in the level of play between her and Basey, she credited her with giving her the courage to try her hand at playing a national tournament.

"I don't know if I was necessarily ready to play at this level yet, but Susan really pushed me," said Carlos. "I have gotten a lot better in the last year though. Playing something like this wouldn't have even been on my radar last summer."

Carlos said the loss also serves as a motivating factor to hit the practice court after playing against stronger opponents that could pick on her weaknesses. 

"The biggest thing now is probably building up consistency because everybody here can hit the ball hard," said Carlos. "When the disparity in the level of play is that big, I just have to try and make them hit another ball."

While Basey admitted that she wouldn't normally play with a weaker player at a national level tournament without the bond that she and Carlos share, she does believe that the pair can win titles in the future.

"This is all part of a seven-year plan," said Basey with a laugh. "When Maritoni turns 50, I'll be 57 and we can play in 50-and-over events together. That's when we'll clean up."