Tennis Anyone?

When one thinks of top tennis players, names such as Caroline Wozniacki or Roger Federer usually come to mind. Avid fans of these professional players have been following their careers for years. For myself, I have often wondered how and when did these players get hooked on tennis. At what age did they begin playing? Was there a deciding moment or a key person in their younger lives that encouraged them to stick with it and keep practicing? Personally, I have no idea how they got started in the game, but I sure know how the students of St. Michael School in Ottawa, got started in the game of tennis.

For the last nine years, I have been teaching at St. Michael School. One day, during morning recess, I noticed a grade four student walking around the yard, swinging his tennis racket and bouncing a ball on the pavement. I was curious and I wanted to chat with him about his interest in tennis.  I strolled over to better observe ‘his singles match’ he had going with the pavement.  As I approached him, I called out: “Hey, Kyle. Cool looking racket you have there. I didn’t know you played tennis.”

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