Growing up in New York, the US Open holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first tennis tournament, and the first sporting event, that I ever watched live. Admissions for the qualifying event is free, so every year my coach would take a huge group of juniors to watch matches all day for those couple of days.

To be honest, the first time I made the trip out to Flushing Meadows, I didn’t know enough about the sport to really appreciate what I was watching. I was probably seven years old, and I only knew a handful of players by name. Nevertheless, for a kid who loved to play pretty much every sport, this was a dream come true. I would go home each night and look up the players I watched that day. If I was lucky enough to get an autographed ball or picture, I immediately placed it in a prime viewing spot in my room.

Those experiences are what first kick-started my dream to play professionally. When I was on the practice court, I would imitate what I saw on TV, hoping that my forehand or backhand would be that powerful one day. I still haven’t quite mastered Roddick’s serve!

When the Dream Became Real

A few years down the road, I began training at the U.S.T.A. Center in Flushing Meadows. I vividly remember playing practice matches on the US Open courts and pretending I was playing in the finals of the real event. (My current mental coach would appreciate such an early and pure form of visualization!)

When I was seventeen, I competed in the qualifying event for the first time. The thought that my dream was starting to become a reality was admittedly nerve-wracking, but obviously very exciting. Part of me couldn’t believe I was playing in a tournament I grew up attending as a spectator. My family, coaches, and friends all came out to watch. With their overwhelming support, I made it to the final round of qualifying, winning two of my most memorable matches along the way.

I feel very fortunate to come from a city that hosts a grand slam. I was lucky enough to have a lot of exposure to an elite-level professional sport at a young age. The US Open has somehow always been a part of my life. I’ve either been attending or competing in the tournament for as long as I can remember. Without trying to sound too cliché, there really is something magical about it. The bright lights, the big city, and the thrilling night matches (my favorite), all make for an exciting couple of weeks every summer.

How it all Began

My early tennis days were not as conventional as that of many other professional players. I wasn’t hand fed balls from the moment I could walk. In fact, not one person in my family came from a “tennis” background. The first time I picked up a racquet, I was probably six or seven, but I had already been playing just about every other sport.

I’m a pretty firm believer that team sports, or sports in general, are extremely beneficial to a child’s development both physically and emotionally. I’m grateful for the discipline that they helped instill in me from a young age. Being so involved in something also kept me very busy, so time management was quickly learned and became an important skill. I continued to play other sports until I was about thirteen, when I decided to focus exclusively on playing tennis.

I was a little bit of a late bloomer with respect to junior success, but my results started improving when I chose to pursue tennis more seriously. Once I started winning at the pro circuit level, I decided that playing professional tennis was what I wanted to do. When I turned pro, I knew I had to make even more of a commitment to be as disciplined and professional as possible. This was my career now, and it was in my hands.

New Standard of Professionalism

The decision came with a few pretty big changes. (For example, I am allowed to keep all of my prize money now- woo!) I was definitely better prepared for some than others. The little details became so much more important. There was a bigger focus on mental training, injury prevention, and a lot of things that may seem minor but ultimately make a huge difference. After all, this was my job now, and I wanted to do it right.

I invested in a physical therapist and trainer to travel with me part time. My game style demands very physical, high-intensity work from my body, so staying fit and injury free is extremely important. I also started spending a lot more time speaking with a mental coach, incorporating more disciplined routines, visualization, and breathing techniques.

I’ve had to adapt to the rigorous amount of travel required to be a professional tennis player. Living out of a suitcase became the norm, as did never being in the same city for more than a week or two at a time. (Big pro – I rarely have to unpack!). I find the lengthy, international trips to be the most tiring, but a few years of experience have helped me gauge my limits when planning my schedule.

Highs and Lows

One thing I was not quite prepared for was the inevitable fluctuation of success, or rather, results. If I’ve learned anything over the past few years, it’s that success should not be measured solely by wins and losses. I’ve been very fortunate to experience some incredible highs, as well as some humbling lows.

In 2016, I reached the semi-finals in Madrid, which launched my ranking into the top hundred for the first time. Immediately following, the stakes felt much higher all of a sudden. Was this the new standard? Everyone expects me to repeat my performance. I had more eyes on me than ever before, and I felt significant pressure to replicate my amazing week.

These pressures were pretty new to me, and unfortunately, I didn’t handle them as well as I would have liked. My focus shifted away from the “big picture” process that had gotten me to where I was, and more towards near-term results. Unfortunately for me, it’s tough to play my best tennis when my focus is outcome-based. My results suffered, but I did learn how vitally important it is to keep expectations under control.

I’ve been told that the struggles of defending points are normal and should be somewhat expected. It’s something that’s hard to prepare for until you are put into that situation, but my career is still young! I’m hoping for many more opportunities to handle those situations better.

My Takeaway

My dreams and goals have changed over time, and I imagine they will continue to change as I develop and grow as a person and a player. Additionally my experiences – both the positive and negative – have shown me the importance of maintaining a big picture mindset when setting goals for myself. Managing the ups and downs of the tour is something I am still working on to this day. A level-headed outlook is critical for success at the highest level. Because of the unpredictable nature of tennis, I think it is extremely important to develop habits that can be sustained over the course of a long career.

I have by no means mastered the art of balancing pressure and expectations, but I definitely feel more equipped to handle tough situations. I’m eager to learn from and improve on my past experiences! I will be forever grateful to the sport for all that I have experienced so far, and I look forward to, hopefully, many more years of chasing my dreams.

-Louisa

A big thank you to Louisa for being open and honest in sharing her story with us. We’d love to hear from you all too. What highs and lows have you experienced during your tennis journey? Comment below.

Read more first-hand stories from players and coaches in our Players’ Box, My College Tennis Experience, and Coach’s Corner series!