US Open tennis player an inspiration

adviser — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:47:29 +0000

Melanie Oudin, at age 17, made it into the U.S. Tennis Open. Oudin, standing at 5 feet, 6 inches, has a singles career record of 87-40. One might ask, how does a FAHS girls tennis member compare to someone like Melanie?
“It takes more than just lots of training to achieve what Melanie Oudin has – such as a strong work ethic, focus, determination, and an amazing talent for performing under lots of pressure. She definitely puts a lot into her career and that’s why she has been so successful so early on in her life,” Senior FAHS Tennis player Ellen Ringle said.
“The fans would obviously have an impact during my match play, but I wouldn’t let that pressure distract me,” FAHS Tennis Player Allyson Nysted said.
Melanie Oudin has proven to agree with Allyson.
“Its been her goal since she was 9 [to play tennis],” Leslie Oudin, her mother, told nytimes.com.
Melanie has been home schooled since age 11, to allow her to focus more on tennis. According to her family and representatives, Melanie has missed birthdays, Thanksgiving, many Mother’s Days, and has taken no vacations. Which with a schedule like that, it can be expect.
“I’m home-schooled, so I get up in the morning about 7:30 and start my homework around 8. I’ll do that from 8-11, and then I’ll do tennis and will finish with tennis at 4:30. That’s including tennis practice, drills and matchplay. Sometimes I do fitness after, it just depends. I’ll come home, usually eat dinner, do more homework and go to bed because I’m so tired. That’s basically
my day,” Melanie Oudin told United States Tennis Association.
Her family has spent around $300,000 on coaches, travel, lodging and other extras.
“You can’t tell if she’s winning or losing. Even when she’s down, she looks like she is up,” United States Federal Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez told nytimes.com .
Melanie is very competitive and sticks with her motto, “Keep fighting and never back down”.
FAHS Girls’ Tennis team has a current record of 4-1. The girls dedicate every week day, 3:30-5:30, to practicing.
“A typical practice includes warm up with a partner, a light jog, stretching, conditioning drills, hitting drills emphasizing specific skills, match play, challenge matches, team building activities and drills to wrap up practice. Each day is different and the focus changes often. My goal is to mentally and physically prepare my players for each match,” Girls Tennis Coach Mike DeRubeis said.
Due to conference competition, the girls tennis team will be missing out on the homecoming football game. A few girls, even took time out of their summer to go to summer camps.
“I went to tennis camp this past summer along with some of my other teammates. It was a lot of tennis, but a lot of fun as well. After every year I’ve gone to the camp, I feel I’ve improved because of it. I also participated in a USTA Junior Team Tennis League during th summer, which was a great way to improve through lots of match play. Tennis is definitely a sport where you get out of it what you individually are willing to put in,” Senior Ellen Ringle said.

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US Open tennis player an inspiration