Feature Articles

Competition, Friends, and Goals

Lisa Izzi, GAC Founder & President
August 5, 2007

The sun shone, tennis courts hummed, and teenage girls donned skirts and sneakers. It was Saturday, August 4th, and I was at the United States Tennis Association Girls 18 National Championships.

To remedy competitors' broken strings and rackets at the USTA Championships, on-site machines and stringers ensure the players have what they need.

The competition was hosted at the historical Berkeley Tennis Club in Berkeley, CA, a national tournament that brings in the top 200 junior tennis players in America. The young women who qualified worked hard to get there. Just being at the green and white clubhouse, I felt the buzz of excitement—girls signing in at the registration tables, fresh tennis rackets being strung indoors on machinery, seniors in high school meeting with college coaches at a forum, and athlete interviews taking place outside.

I spoke with two players early in the day, Taylor (17) and Alex (16). I was sitting outside amongst a group of folding chairs. They sat near me, slouched and relaxed, waiting for their practice time near the courts. They looked like regular teens complete with loose ponytails, comfy T-shirts, and hooded sweatshirts. As I scanned all the players milling around, I was curious about the preparation to get to this level and which months of the year they focused on qualifying for such a big tournament.

Girls who are seniors in high school and looking to play tennis in college, speak with coaches from all over the country and learn about their schools and tennis programs.

After I told them I was “Press,” I asked them if I could interview them.

“Sure,” they said, not really convincing me they were interested. But I knew they didn’t know me yet…soon they would like me.

“What months make up the tennis season?” I asked, knowing very little about USTA.

“It’s all year round,” they both told me. As they explained it I understood: In USTA there are several big tournaments spread out through the year and other smaller ones in between. It’s basically non-stop tennis year-round, and these girls made many sacrifices in order to get here.

I probed on, asking about their perspective on the pros and cons of competition.

“The best thing about tennis is being competitive,” Taylor led off very casually. Her thoughts were immediate and I could tell she loved the game. “[Competition] helps you think things through, learn strategies.” She seemed reflective as she looked down, as if these were her life philosophies in a sense.

As I sat there, it was hard for me to not connect their sports experience with mine. When I was their age, I was a gymnast competing nationally. I trained excessively and traveled as well. I knew what Taylor meant. Being mentally sharp is one of the keys to being on top. Competition stimulates your mind.

Taylor’s story continued. When I asked about the pressures of competition, she explained that not long ago she went through a very a difficult time, so difficult the thought of quitting was not far away. From intense training and trying to improve, she had a mental breakdown and regressed. She said she was trying new techniques and “changing her game.”

When players change technique they face many difficulties. In developing new habits, movements are awkward, unfamiliar, and timing gets thrown off. This can create a downward spiral, low confidence, and sometimes it’s a war within your self just to be comfortable on the court. For 4 months, Taylor was not the same player. At times she felt overwhelmed and had to get away, do something else to clear her mind. She was lucky and received a lot of support from her parents, coaches, and friends. She needed that support in order to keep going.

“It’s hard to stick with it,” she said.

But when you love doing something so much, you don’t want to give it up—“I could never do that.” So she worked through it, each day, every week, month after month. Now she’s ranked in the top 100 junior players in America, and she’s likely to earn a college scholarship.

I turned to Alex and asked her, “With all the sacrifices you make, do you have any friends who just don’t get it? You know—the commitment?” Alex laughed a little.

“Yeah. They say, ‘Why can’t you go out?’” Her answer is, “I have a tournament tomorrow.

Her friends will look confused—“Huh???”—and not understand that a good night sleep and taking care of your self really matters before a match. But Alex is strong in her pursuit to keep improving and she’s given up social time to do it. On that note, while working to be a top player, she has struggled to find a balance.

“I took off almost a whole year of school my freshman year,” she told me (to train, travel, and play tournaments). School was less of a priority at that time. “[But] I had to get back into it,” she explained, referring to her studies. As she spoke with her eyebrows pressed down, I could tell both tennis and school were important to her.

Being competitive has its ups and downs. It’s hard to be great at one thing and not let other parts of yourself suffer.

Finally, I asked Taylor and Alex about their goals for this tournament. I was a little surprised that they paused, hemmed and hawed.

Alex mumbled, “It’s hard to say…”

“Well,” I said, “I understand there are process goals, wanting to improve your game, and then outcome goals. What would be realistic for you?”

Still, she couldn’t say. Neither of them could come up with a specific goal. It was as if they didn’t want to predict too much. You see, as an athlete, you can focus too much on winning and placing higher than the last tournament. When you do that, it’s easy to lose sight of your own reasons for playing. Taylor and Alex love the game of tennis. Being competitive and winning is just a part of it.

After we spoke, the three of us got up and walked over to a shady spot for Taylor and Alex to pose for a picture. As I stood across from them holding my camera, I saw them quickly put their arms around each other and smile. They seemed happy to be together and even comfortable around me.

At the Berkeley Tennis Club, Alex (left) and Taylor (right) are friends and competitors hanging out before practice at the USTA Girls 18 National Championships

I asked, just before clicking the camera, “Have you two been friends for a while?”

“Yes,” they said, grinning ear to ear.

And then it all hit me: Friends. Goals. Working hard to do the best you can. That’s really what we do as human beings. We strive. We enjoy each other. We’re constantly processing and developing.

So maybe competing at a high level is not all muscles and guts. It is a balance. And maybe competing is the kind of stimulation all girls can do—in any activity. Competing is an experience that helps you in life.

Alex finally did answer my question about what her goal was for the tournament, and I really liked what she said. Shrugging her shoulders and her voice matter-of-fact, she seemed wise, “Just playing well,” she said.

And in a big competition, or just in life, that’s more than good enough.