Americans and young tennis stars Coco Gauff and Taylor Frits serve up the inside scoop on their individual tennis journeys ahead of their Atlanta Open matches in July.
PHOTO BY DANIEL MCENRUE
When did you first believe you had a chance to play tennis professionally?
My dad always instilled in me the belief that I could be great. He used to tell me that I could change the world with my racket, and I believed him. I think winning one of my first tournaments where I played girls older than me is probably what made me believe I had a chance to play professionally or when we decided to move to Florida.
Who were your inspirations as a young player? Who were your mentors?
As for tennis players, the Williams sisters have always been inspirations to me. Outside of tennis, my grandmother and Michelle Obama are also huge inspirations.
You played in the Atlanta Sunday Showdown presented by UPS event last year. What was that experience like for you?
It was so much fun! It was one of the most electric crowds I have played in front of. We included the ball kids in a few points and got the crowd into it. It was great to see so many people there supporting women’s tennis.
What advice do you give young women who have just started playing the game of tennis and show an interest in becoming the best they can be?
Work hard every day. There may be some days that you don’t want to, but if you focus on one thing and improve on something small, that is still progress. Also, the most important part is to have fun and enjoy what you are doing.
Do you find yourself mentoring younger pros on tour just coming into their own? How important is it for you to build those relationships?
I think the women we have on tour right now are really supportive of each other, and we all try our best to show support for one another. I am still one of the younger ones on tour, but being a mentor to those coming up is important to me.
PHOTO BY ALEX SMITH
Tell me about your early days playing tennis and when you began to love the game.
I always played tennis from a young age since both my parents were pros. My parents had a big influence on my tennis and always encouraged me to play, but I also loved other sports like baseball, basketball, and soccer and I only dedicated fully to tennis quite late compared to most others.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment is winning my home tournament of Indian Wells- that was an incredibly special moment to win in front of all my friends and family.
What advice do you give young players who have the talent to possibly play in college and perhaps further?
My advice would be to work as hard as you can and understand that it’s a process. Don’t be so focused on the results, but instead, control what you can control and focus on playing the right way.
Mental health in sports has become a vital topic of discussion; how do you maintain your psychological health with such a physically and mentally demanding career?
I try to take time away from the tennis court to spend time with friends and family, listen to music, and play video games. It’s important to have that time away from the game to feel fresh and motivated when I’m on the court or in the gym.
What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a tennis player?
Always keep pushing for more. Never be satisfied.
Photography by: Daniel Mcenrue
Alex Smith
