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Brantmeier, a Whitewater High School graduate and University of North Carolina student-athlete, has in recent years advanced her professional tennis career to play multiple times in the U.S. Open.

She is scheduled to compete again in the U.S. Open this August, the fourth time playing in the tournament as an adult and the second time qualifying for the main draw, which is the highest level of competition.

She also qualified multiple times in the past as a junior player.

“This is so terrific that Reese has accomplished such a formidable project that will bring so much joy and opportunities to kids in the Whitewater Community who want to play tennis,â€� said Rosie Casals, a member of the International Tennis Hall and a co-founder of the WomenÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Tennis Association, and mentor of Brantmeier's.

After decades of disrepair and eventual closure, the original court surface was completely removed and rebuilt from the ground up.

The rebuilt courts are now surrounded by new fencing, accessible walkways have been added, and the space has generally been transformed thanks to a community-rooted, globally-supported effort driven by Brantmeier and backed by the Patrick Ryan Memorial Tennis Foundation. 

Beginning Saturday, the courts will again be open to the public.

“Whether you want to watch tennis, play tennis, play games, meet with people in the community, we're going to have, hopefully, something for everybody,â€� Brantmeier said of SaturdayÃÛèÖÊÓƵ event.

Participating in the 1 p.m. ribbon cutting on Saturday will be Brantmeier and Tom Christofferson, the retired Washington Elementary School principal who, along with then–city recreation director Steve Barrett, pushed in the 1970s for the construction of the original courts on the site. 

“He (Tom) is now 90 years old and no longer plays tennis,â€� said TomÃÛèÖÊÓƵ wife, Karen Christofferson. “However he is very pleased that the courts are returning to playing status.â€�

Becky Brantmeier said a lot of families visit the Washington Elementary School playground as they might visit a local park, “and you'll see a lot of people on  weekends and evenings having picnics and playing on the playground."

In stark contrast, the adjacent tennis courts sat vacant -- cracked, locked, and overgrown, with trees pushing through the pavement. Each time Reese passed, she returned to the same thought: they could be transformed into something meaningful for the community.

Ultimately the vision was to rebuild the tennis courts and to ensure that they remain accessible to every child in Whitewater, regardless of income or prior exposure to the sport.

“Every kid should have the opportunity to try it.� said Brantmeier. “Most of the time, kids get exposed to sports from a really young age and can find their passions. And sports can really change lives.�

Brantmeier began training in tennis at age 8 and quickly rose through the ranks to compete in professional tournaments including the U.S. Open.

“We drove 45 minutes to an hour at the least for her to have practice,â€� reflected ReeseÃÛèÖÊÓƵ mother, Becky Brantmeier. “And she did notice that not everyone got that option of their mom and dad being able to just drive them somewhere and pay money for their lessons. And she always said that those courts are right there. There's so many kids in the neighborhood. These courts need to be usable, because tennis can be an affordable thing to do.â€� 

That vision began to take shape in 2021 when Brantmeier, at age 17, decided she was going to put money toward rebuilding the Whitewater courts, and she talked to the Patrick Ryan Memorial Tennis Foundation about a funding goal. 

In 2022, she donated to the project and began working with the Patrick Ryan Foundation, which created a dedicated fund for her under its nonprofit umbrella. Founded in memory of Janesville native Patrick Ryan, an avid tennis player, the foundation promotes public access to the sport through community programming and preservation of tennis courts. 

The Patrick Ryan Foundation has been instrumental elsewhere, including at Palmer Park in Janesville, in restoring and maintaining tennis courts.

Over the next two years, while balancing her studies, international competition, and Division I NCAA tennis, Brantmeier raised more than $160,000 to restore the Whitewater courts.

“I have been so inspired in this project, just to see the impact that community can have,� Brantmeier said.

“She (Reese) just kept coming back to, ‘I want to make those courts nice. I want to make those courts nice,’� reflected Becky Brantmeier.

Along the way, Brantmeier drew support from both her hometown and her global tennis network, including her UNC teammates, coaches, fans, and professional legends like Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals. Casals, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, co-founder of the WomenÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Tennis Association, and president of the Latin American Tennis Foundation, first met Brantmeier in 2019, when she and Billie Jean King presented her with the trophy for winning the 16s at the USTA Billie Jean King Jr. Nationals in San Diego.

“I knew there was something special about Reese, and she didn’t disappoint,â€� Casals later recalled, noting that she was also struck by BrantmeierÃÛèÖÊÓƵ artistic talent after seeing a portrait she had drawn of King. Casals became a mentor and advocate for the Whitewater courts project, inspired not only by BrantmeierÃÛèÖÊÓƵ determination, but also by the city's vibrant Latino community and the projectÃÛèÖÊÓƵ focus on local accessibility

“Those stars of the past took her under her wings and said, ‘You can do this. We started the WTA, you can do this,’� shared Becky Brantmeier. 

Through exhibitions, learning grant writing, fundraisers, and grassroots outreach, Brantmeier mobilized donors from as far as Australia and Dubai, all united by a shared belief in tennis as an accessible and community-building sport.

She continues efforts to raise an additional $20,000 to support long-term maintenance and potentially fund electricity costs for lights in the future.

To remove further barriers, Brantmeier has arranged for tennis bags (cinch sacks) with rackets and balls to be made available for checkout at all three Whitewater elementary schools, the middle school, the high school, and the public library.

SaturdayÃÛèÖÊÓƵ celebration will feature food trucks, games, music, prize giveaways, and chances to meet local professional, collegiate, and high school tennis players. Community organizations, including United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties, will also host booths to connect families with local resources, many of them bilingual and focused on inclusive outreach.

Brantmeier, a student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, is a double major in exercise and sport science and studio art. She recently earned recognition as the NCAA Elite 90 award for the 2025 NCAA Division and the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

“I want to congratulate Reese for her accomplishment in setting her sights high and achieving her goals,� said Casals. “I was but a small part of all this in encouraging her to follow her dream. I am happy that the dream came to fruition, and I am only sorry I could not be there to celebrate Reese and the many others who helped.�

“Also well done in qualifying for the U.S. Open. Hope to see you there!� Casals said.