Quinn Gleason, a five-time Section V girls tennis champion and three-time all-state honoree, competed at this year’s Wimbledon tournament for the second time in her career after clinching the doubles title at the Città di Grado Tennis Cup on June 15 in Italy, alongside former rival Ingrid Martins.
With Martins sharing her side of the court, the Mendon native joined this year’s tournament in the doubles draw as an alternate; replacing the duo of Olga Danilović and Anastasia Potapova, who withdrew from the competition.
Gleason is currently ranked No. 70 in the world in doubles play and began her Wimbledon campaign with a first-round win, defeating Alexandra Eala and Eva Lys, marking the first time she has progressed to the second round of a Grand Slam tournament.
Gleason’s journey to the sport’s biggest stage has been marked by a relentless dedication to her craft, dating back to her days as a student-athlete at Honeoye Falls-Lima.
Quinn Gleason’s Section V tennis career
After training under local legend and former US Open competitor Billy Nealon at the Tennis Club of Rochester, she began to leave her mark.
“She was probably nine years old when I started working with her privately, and she was already showing a deep love for the game,” Nealon said. “By the time she was 17, she had developed a great work ethic and a real joy for being on the court.”
Gleason dominated Section V competition during her formative years, starting her varsity career in the seventh grade, going undefeated for five years of league play. She went on to earn various accolades, including a third-place finish at the state championship and a national ranking of No. 12.
During her senior year, she played for HFL’s boys team and represented them in the NYSPHSAA state boys tennis championships.
“She’s a real force at the net,” says Suzanne McGrain, a longtime family friend of Gleason’s who recently watched her compete at the French Open. “She can crush the ball cross-court, but it’s obvious she has a great time too.”
Nealon echoed that sentiment: “She still has that same impish smile when she plays, that twirl of the racket that she’s done since she was a kid. You can tell she’s having a blast.”
Craig McGrain, who practiced with Gleason during her early teens, emphasized her abilities. “It was really fun watching her grow up and go from a club player to someone who puts the heat on.”
Her high school dominance earned her the No. 2 ranking among tennis recruits in New York State and a scholarship to play at Notre Dame. Gleason would quickly prove herself on the national stage, earning MVP honors as a freshman and leading the Fighting Irish to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. She would earn three varsity monograms before graduating in 2016.
“Eventually, it got to the point where Craig couldn’t hit with her anymore,” Suzanne McGrain said.
Quinn Gleason’s pro tennis career
Since turning pro, Gleason has spent her career competing in open events around the world, making numerous appearances in World Tennis Association (WTA) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments across Europe, South America and the United Kingdom.
She has captured four WTA doubles titles – three of which came at the challenger level – and 16 ITF doubles titles, along with a singles victory at the ITF Circuit. Her triumphs have earned her just under $260,000 in total prize money.
Nealon credited Gleason’s success in doubles to her net game and unique shot selection.
“She’s developed some real weapons. She’ll chip, charge, lob over the net player’s head – she’s not afraid to mix things up. You don’t see that often.”
Gleason wasn’t the only upstate New York native at this year’s Wimbledon. Jessica Pegula, who defeated Gleason in a doubles match at the 2023 US Open, entered the singles draw as the No. 3 seed, but suffered a stunning first-round upset at the hands of Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Despite the competitive nature of the sport, along with the physical toll of the pro tour, Gleason has shown remarkable stamina. According to Nealon, Gleason has competed in 33 tournaments over the past 52 weeks and never let it prevent her from being her true self.
“She always has a huge smile on her face, on and off the court,” Craig McGrain added. “If you see her play, you know she’s having a good time.”
Even though Gleason would lose her second-round matchup against German prodigies Diana Shnaider (No. 9 in doubles worldwide) and Mirra Andreeva (No. 13 in doubles worldwide), she has undoubtedly set an example for aspiring tennis players in her hometown.
From the early lessons as a youth player and achieving Section V glory, to competing on the world’s biggest tennis stage, Quinn Gleason’s journey is a reminder of what years of dedication and hard work can bring.
“I’m exceedingly happy for her,” Nealon said. “I’ve always told Quinn that outside of [her] family, I’m her biggest fan.”
Rodrigo Feijao is an intern for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, focusing on sports-related stories and local music. He can be found on Instagram @rfeijao_777 and can be reached at RFeijao@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Former Section V tennis star who competed at this year’s Wimbledon: What to know
Reporting by Rodrigo Feijao, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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