Mandy Minella
March 25, 2021
“In 2001, I moved to Paris at age 15 to follow my dream of becoming a professional tennis player. My parents made this possible and I did not want to disappoint them. I trained full-time at an academy but struggled with solitude. I traveled alone for years without a coach. In 2006, I injured my knee and my tennis career became uncertain. Hard times prepare you to enjoy the good times. Four years later, I broke through at the US Open. I won five matches and faced Venus Williams on Arthur Ashe under the lights. I realized the huge impact of tennis as entertainment and I could not believe I was one of the players in this world. I gained motivation because I wanted to spend more time on the biggest stages. If you put in the work, it is in your hands whether or not you achieve success. My results improved and I started to earn a living as a professional tennis player. In 2016, I struggled from an injury that prevented me from achieving results. I felt like I forgot how to hold a racquet. I could not put one foot in front of the other and my
“In 2001, I moved to Paris at age 15 to follow my dream of becoming a professional tennis player. My parents made this possible and I did not want to disappoint them. I trained full-time at an academy but struggled with solitude. I traveled alone for years without a coach. In 2006, I injured my knee and my tennis career became uncertain. Hard times prepare you to enjoy the good times. Four years later, I broke through at the US Open. I won five matches and faced Venus Williams on Arthur Ashe under the lights. I realized the huge impact of tennis as entertainment and I could not believe I was one of the players in this world. I gained motivation because I wanted to spend more time on the biggest stages. If you put in the work, it is in your hands whether or not you achieve success. My results improved and I started to earn a living as a professional tennis player. In 2016, I struggled from an injury that prevented me from achieving results. I felt like I forgot how to hold a racquet. I could not put one foot in front of the other and my