4th annual Raise a Racket Against Domestic Violence tennis tournament starts in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A tennis tournament to raise awareness and show support for domestic violence victims kicked off Friday night in Wilmington.

The 4th annual Raise a Racket Against Domestic Violence tennis tournament was held at Empie Park’s Althea Gibson Tennis Complex.

The tournament is held in honor of MaryAnn Breault, who was killed by her husband in a domestic violence murder-suicide at Holly Tree Racquet Club in 2021.

Breault’s daughter Rachel Knowles was sitting in the car with her mom at the time, waiting for her brother’s tennis practice to end.

While the tournament had been held at Holly Tree in previous years, Knowles moved it to Empie Park this year because Holly Tree has been sold.

Knowles said the decision was tough but could help the tournament move forward.

“I think it’s a blessing in disguise that it allows us to take the tournament here and also to get a way a little bit from the tragedy that did happen there,” Knowles said. “I think that we’re at that point where we can start to grow and I always say this is so much bigger that just our story, this is the community’s story really. So really bringing it into another area where this can continue to live on.”

In its first 3 years, the tournament has raised more than $60,000 for the Domestic Violence Shelter of Wilmington, with around 200 people taking part every year.

The tournament will continue through Sunday, March 2nd.