On Saturday, Lexington hosted its fourth annual Mary Maloney Aussie Open Tennis Tournament at the Plum Creek Park Tennis Courts.
Organized by Parks and Recreation Manager Jake Saulsbury, the event drew in local participants and spectators, along with individuals from outside the Dawson and Gosper County area.
The tournament spanned nearly 12 hours and over 110 matches.
Lexington’s Aussie Open is dedicated to the memory of Mary Maloney, who died May 11, 2020, at age 82.
Maloney’s legacy endures, particularly through her contributions to high school tennis in Lexington and the creation of the annual Lexington Labor Day Tennis Tournament. Her relationships with Saulsbury and other tennis players in the community continue to be remembered.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Maloney moved to Lexington in 1974 after marrying John Maloney.
People are also reading…
With her close friend Linda Motzner, Maloney co-founded the Lexington Labor Day Tournament, attracting competitors from across Nebraska and beyond. They managed the tournament for two decades (1979-1999), and it continues today.
In recognition of her impact on the sport, Maloney was inducted into the Nebraska Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.
After COVID-19 restrictions began to be lifted in Nebraska in 2021, the city of Lexington organized a new doubles tennis tournament to honor Maloney’s legacy.
In this year’s tournament, Landen Soncksen and Oliver Fellers claimed first place in the youth division, triumphing over Millie Pepplitsch and Evan Mins.
In the men’s doubles division, Asher Saulsbury and Nathaniel Miller secured the top spot.
Kayleigh Cetak and Lexi Benson won the women’s division.
Joel Monter and Jenna Atwood won the mixed doubles division.
 "BCCI want Test specialists to play domestic cricket; Rohit, Virat, Bumrah to be exceptions")
