best character at their club, the answer comes as fast as a serena williams' serve, their friend, debbie kelly. >> debbie for me was kind of the whole package of a person. fair, fun, and a great leader. >> reporter: debbie, fiercely independent, driven. >> always wanted to be a career woman. >> reporter: she climbed the corporate ladder in healthcare. her mom and dad, jim and anne kelly, marveled at her commitment. >> she spent many, many hours traveling and many hours working overtime. >> reporter: but debbie hadn't found as much success in her personal life. she got married in her 20s, but it didn't work out. now in her 40s, and dedicated to her career, there was little time to look for the right guy. >> reporter: was it hard to date? >> it was hard for her to date. >> reporter: so in 2008 debbie took a new job that allowed her to focus a little more on her personal life. that's when she got serious about her tennis game. >> she was a little bit of a tiger. >> reporter: that's how she met this bunch, bette paese, soeurette shook-kelly, and ellen mitchell. >> she was not a big person. but all