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Gates Mills tennis ace qualifies for U.S. Open
(by Mike Klimko - August 21, 2008)
Gates Mills tennis ace qualifies for U.S. Open
By MIKE KLIMKO
Move over Chris Evert. You too, Mary Joe Fernandez, Zina Garrison and Betsy Nagelson. Make room for Lauren Davis, a 14-year-old tennis sensation from Gates Mills.
All five of those tennis players won the United States Tennis Association Championships, but none was younger than Davis, who will be a freshman at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills this year.
Davis was seeded 12th heading into the tournament in San Diego. The San Diego Union Tribune identified her as being from Lake Mills, Ohio, and the paper even published a story about the top-seeded player in the tournament.
Davis outlasted everyone, dominating Monica Turewicz, of Illinois, 6-2, 6-1, to wrap up the championship. The finals' match between Davis and Turewicz was the third meeting of the girls, with Davis winning the previous two matches.
The victory qualified her for the U.S. Open next week in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
"I felt nervous, said Davis, a 5-foot-2 1/2, 106-pounder. "I felt shaky and got over that. I tried to forget about everything, hit the ball, play slow and not rush. My goal is to be a pro. I look up to every pro because I see the hard work they put into their game."
The championship match came on the heels of an upset of top-seeded Ellen Tsay, of Pleasanton, Calif., 4-7, 7-5, 6-1. The battle of 14 year olds lasted three hours and seven minutes.
Jean Kremm, San Diego junior tennis advocate, said she could not remember the championship for 16-year olds being won by a 14-year old, not since the tournament was brought to San Diego in 1990.
Davis prepped for San Diego with four tournament victories, including one in Columbus, Ind., with 18-year olds. "This past year my tennis has been flourishing," she said. "I'm consistent. I have really good stamina. And I'm really fast.
Now, Davis is looking ahead to the high school season. However, because she is competing in the U.S. Open, she may be ineligible to play for the Lancers.
"It would be great to play high school and win states," Davis said. "It would be great to make states as a freshman. In San Diego, it was a great feeling to win the finals. Everybody was watching.
"If I win my first round at the Open, I won't be able to play high school. The deadline is Sept. 1," she said. "I'm really excited. I'll be playing near the pros. I hope to meet some of them. I hope to meet (Roger) Federer.
"He's not cocky, or anything even though he's (ranked No.) 2 in the world. He's a great player. He makes everything look so easy and moves the ball. He's extremely tough and consistent."
Davis took up tennis at age 9, she said, playing about once a month with a friend of her mother's who was a tennis pro and who spotted the potential in her. Last year turned out to a breakthrough year, she said.
She noticed a marked improvement in tournaments and began winning some, Davis said. In the finals of the Easter Bowl in Palm Beach, Fla., she began to feel she had developed a sense of confidence, she said.
"I've played other sports. I was always more serious about tennis," said Davis. "I was best at tennis and enjoyed tennis the most. The other sports were just to get in shape for tennis and for social.
"I ran the 400 and 100 in track. Being a sprinter helped my game. I sprint to get a drop shot. I can get to anything. I'm fast on the court. Court coverage is a big part of my game. It's a huge advantage. A lot of girls don't move well.
"I'm doing well with my serve. I place the ball. Sometimes, it's hard for girls to hit the ball back. I could improve on my volleys. I could improve a bit on my serve. A good player has to do the little things."
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