Player Spotlight: Chelsea Davis:: usta.com
Player Spotlight: Chelsea Davis:: usta.com~~~
I'm not familiar with Chelsea Davis, but I certainly know about her now, with this lengthy story about the fifteen-year-old with pro ambitions that was published under the "Community Tennis Player Spotlight" section of usta.com this week.
There's nothing much I can add to this story, which is full of fascinating details and quotes, except to say that it seems typical of junior tennis players with professional ambitions (and their parents). But the more I follow junior tennis, the more I've come to believe that every family harboring this dream is different, and that the paths they choose are fraught with unavoidable trade-offs that most have studied carefully.
13 comments:
It is so sad to take a child from her mother and sister, when a family can only be together for such a short time.To attempt to achieve a child's dream which may surely change as she matures, and cause obvious financial, as well as emotional hardship to a family, is not healthy for an of the familial relationships.Many have the same dream, and have achieved it without this "sacrifice" I hope this father recognizes that he has over reacted before it is too late. They all deserve to have a more normal life.
not really; she is actually very happy with situation.
Strangest thing about this story is that Chelsea now hasn't played a match since 2004, that I can tell. Anybody have results of her progress towards her pro career??
I am familiar with the family as they are out of NorCal. It is clearly an unhealthy situation that the father has put them in. She has not played in any tournaments that would recognize her for any accomplishments thus far!
Chelsea didn't enter tournaments for a year due to being switched from a double-handed forhand to a single handed forhand. To those who do not understand tennis, this is extremely difficult. Chelsea will be entering 10K events in 2007, however, she is back to her original double handed forehand. The single handed stroke didn't make sense. According to Harold Solomon, "Rick Macci should have never switched Chelsea, Chelsea is extremely fast and it didn't make sense." Chelsea will start with qualifying events on the pro circuit in 2007.
Chelsea is playing at a very high level these days. She is heading for the Winter National Championships G18s in AZ on Dec. 27th. For those who get a chance to see Chelsea it will provide a glimpse into a "next level" game. Chelsea is focused on growth and development. Her ranking isn't reflective, at the moment, of her all court game. 2007 will be a huge year for Chelsea as she gets back into the national spotlight.
Chelsea is AWESOME!!!
For the comment made on 11/16/2005, Read this: Chelsea will be playing for Columbia University in the fall of 2009!!!
Chelsea also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Laurel Springs in June 2009.
The family made many sacrifices for their children - our other daughter, Haley, is attending RISD and also graduated Summa Cum Laude from School Of The Arts in San Francisco.
I guess the sacrifice paid off, it's people like you who play it safe and take no risk.
I don't think the poster on 11/16/2005 was talking that she couldn't go to college with her tennis. Her goal was to play professional tennis and while playing tennis for Columbia is surely an accomplishment, it is a very, very long shot from any sort of professional tennis. That school doesn't recruit most of the highest recruits anyway (I realize they recruited one bluechip this year, but not typical.) Anyway, good for her, but this SURELY isn't something that you have to break up a family for. Many kids play tennis in college without doing that.
? - very well said. The path she took to end up playing college tennis was something most would never consider. 2-3 years ago Chelsea was quoted that she would possibly consider playing college tennis for Stanford.....but that pro tennis was her goal. In the article, her dad made it sound like it was close to a sure thing.
Like you said, Columbia is a great institution in a great city....but not a route to pro tennis.
It's interesting that there were never any results posted about Chelsea's results on the pro circuit. That and the level of promotion on this blog thread just re-inforces for me how misguided many tennis parents there are when it comes to what it takes to play professional tennis. I had the chance to see her play in a G18 National Open about a year ago and was shocked that she was about at the same level as I had seen here in the 14's. In those 3 years, she didn't improve at all......how much money, time and family/friend time was lost?
The journey in junior tennis is always about making the pro level one day. Only a few parents would pour thousands of dollars if their child's only dream was to play in college. Obviously, the ultimate goal for Chelsea wasn't fulfilled, however, the hard work and dedication paid off. 99/100 junior tennis players who dream of playing pro end up at a Div. 1/11/111 college and play four years. The question now becomes, "what will you do after college". In Chelsea's situation, she is going to the #2 college in the world, Columbia, and will undoubtedly have a successful post-tennis career. It's too bad that most of these so-called tennis wannabees criticize blogs such as this when the reality is that they have never been on the "inside" only on the outside claiming that they know what they're talking about. Chelsea followed what her parents wanted for her, a bright future. Guess what, she is now an A student at Columbia, the #2 player on the team and has many friends. Here's what I'll say to these naysayers, "What have you done with your children?" Don't even try to compare what you've done with what the Davis family has accomplished. EVER
Ross – some issues with your post. (1) the journey in junior tennis is rarely about making it to the pro-level, not ‘always’ as you suggest. Most realize that in the 12 – 14 year-old range, others such as yourself realize it much later. (2) most tennis parents of 4 and 5 star (and blue-chip) players do in fact spend on average $10 - $30k per year for their child’s benefit, knowing full well they will play ‘only’ college tennis. (3) Columbia is a great school, clearly in the top 10 in the US, but not #2 in the world. (4) Going to a great school provides a wonderful opportunity, but in no way undoubtedly ensures a student’s career success. (5) posters on this and most tennis blogs are ‘on the inside’ and are well-qualified to post their insights on this topic, even if they paint a different picture than what you have in your head. (6) Many tennis parents have brilliant kids who are at great schools, have friends and are happy. Fortunately the Davis family doesn’t have an exclusive hold on that accomplishment.
Ross,
You are delusional. Yes, she goes to great school, but comparing the current situation with your previous posts...it looks exactly like you are stating, she followed what you wanted, and you are seriously twisting your desires now. BTW tennis @ Columbia is not that great (to put it mildly), the joke is that Columbia students do not even know that Columbia has athletics (I have an inside scoop), and I saw Chelsea play against Princeton, well, old comparison to Henin isn't even funny, c'mon, get real...
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