My Tennis Journey
I started playing tennis when I was 16 years old. My parents enrolled me because they believed it was the best sport for me. At first, I honestly thought tennis was an "old lady's sport," and I couldn't understand why they wanted me to play it so badly.
After spending some time on my high school tennis team, one of my coaches asked me, "Did you know you can earn a college scholarship through tennis?" That one question completely changed my perspective.
I immediately started researching local clubs where I could find a coach to help me improve. I found Kitsap Tennis & Athletic Club, and I went straight to Coach Erik. I asked him one simple question: "What do I need to do to play college tennis?"
Almost everyone I talked to told me it was impossible. In the tennis world, most players start when they're four or five years old, and I was already 16. People looked at me and said I had started far too late to ever play in college.
Instead of letting that discourage me, I decided to prove them wrong.
One of my former students that always had the same ambition as me
Check out some articles through my college journey :
I went home and asked my mom if I could be homeschooled so I could dedicate more time to tennis. From that point on, I spent nearly every day at the tennis club—from the moment it opened until it closed. I practiced for hours, took lessons, trained relentlessly, and committed myself to improving every single day.
Eventually, all of that hard work paid off when I received my first opportunity to play at a community college. After continuing to develop my game there, I earned another opportunity to compete at the NCAA Division II level for William Jessup University in California.
My journey taught me something I'll never forget: where you start doesn't determine where you can finish.
I truly believe that anyone who picks up a racquet and is willing to work hard can achieve their tennis goals. Whether your goal is to make your high school team, compete in tournaments, earn a college scholarship, or simply become a better player, it is always possible with the right mindset, dedication, and coaching.
That's the same passion and belief I bring to every lesson I teach. My goal is to help every player reach their full potential—no matter when they start.
Click link to see all my former students progress through their tennis time with me.
https://www.instagram.com/tenniscoachkenzie_?igsh=cWNvM2F0aTRsZW52&utm_source=qr