Month: November 2023

November 21, 2023

#MyBTR – “I was always heavier than most of my peers, but I didn’t let it stop me from playing. I ate, slept & breathed tennis, but knew playing college or pro would never happen.  I worked with the Ohio State tennis programs in undergrad & at the WTA after I graduated. Being in those environments was super exciting, but also exacerbated me feeling like a fish out of water. I always felt like I couldn’t be anything other than the “really big tennis fan who was also really big.” In January 2020, I began the process to have gastric bypass, which I call my “second lease on life.” It’s been an absolute game-changer. I actually don’t know my highest weight, but I’m down about 200 lbs since I started. Since then, I also came out to those close to me & started playing on the @gltaworldtour. I’ve found another family & it’s rewarding to play on a circuit all over the world with similar people. Sure, the GLTA gives a space for LGBTQ+ players & allies to play tennis, but so many charities are supported through the 100+ events every year.  I’ve used this journey to see how good (more…)

November 16, 2023

“On the court, I think I’m a more aggressive player than normal. I’m courageous in important moments of the game (a match). In my opinion, it was the biggest difference in winning the US Open. I’ve always been like this – it wasn’t just some adaptation I made in the moment. Before winning the US Open, the biggest moment in my career was when I won the Roland Garros Junior Wild Card Series in Brazil in 2022. The victory gave me a place in the Grand Slam bracket for the first time, which I was very happy about. I had played youth  tournaments in Brazil, some abroad, but never a Grand Slam. That’s when it became key. I went to Roland Garros without many expectations and reached the round of 16. That year I played Wimbledon and the US Open too, and then we even won the junior Davis Cup final at the end of the year. Coming into the US Open this year, it was important that I overcome my hurdle of the quarterfinals. Until that point, I had reached the quarters in Australia, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, suffering and losing in  long matches. I managed to grow throughout (more…)