December 18, 2007

It has been a while since I have written. This has been an eventful year and I feel very lucky to be in the position I am now.

I played my last tournament in June in Italy. It was heartbreaking to not be able to perform at my best due to my leg injury.

I returned home to Florida one week later still not content with my game ,so I decided to start a new chapter.

Back when I was playing my best I never thought I would enjoy coaching. Whenever I watched my friends, I always got anxious and wanted to go out on court and play too!

In June I began coaching a 17 year old girl, helping her to improve on consistency and in match play. My knowledge from my experiences just came flowing out when we practiced and I loved helping her.

In August I began coaching and mentoring another up and coming young player. We traveled to ITF junior tournaments, so I experienced all the grind again and emotions that my coach must have felt from the sidelines! It might be tougher to watch than play, I am not sure yet!

In November I took a PTR tennis teaching certification course and passed with the highest level for a coach. So now I am also a Professional Tennis Coach!

With the knowledge I have gained in the last five months I feel like I am playing better and playing with nothing to lose, I wish I would have always played this way!

On December 15 I was invited to play an exhibition mixed-doubles match against Martin Damm, former US Open doubles champion and currently ranked 12 ATP in doubles. Wow...that was fun.

My partner and I won in a tie break, but I have a feeling Martin did not play all out, or maybe I am just getting that good...hhmmmm. Maybe I will enter more tournaments...

For now though, I am entered in classes at a local college and coaching tennis. I hope to stay involved in tennis the rest of my life along with personal training and Nutrition.

Thanks to Michael and John for creating and maintaining this fabulous web site.

Thanks to Ian, Seth, Chris, Fritz, Lance, Alex, Rapha, Mark, Sandra, Linda, the WTA staff, Bunny, Missy, Donna, Dessie, Billie, my mother and father and everyone who has helped and supported me throughout my career. I am so grateful for everything. I loved and appreciated every moment.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

With love,
Tiff