Julia Zhang '23 Recruiting Profile

I can vividly remember my first real exposure to tennis. The year was 2019, and the living room TV was playing the Australian Open. The match was Ashleigh Barty vs. Maria Sharapova; a three-set thriller that is single-handedly responsible for my greatest passion today.

In 2019, I was in 8th grade, playing soccer for a club team and training extensively in martial arts. I had never picked up a racket in my life. Three years later, despite quarantine and a global pandemic, I’m proud to say I have accomplished a feat many thought impossible: in less than two years I fought my way from hitting with orange balls to ranked number seven in my state. I play first singles for my high school varsity team, and I won team MVP.

People are always surprised to know how short my journey has been so far. In retrospect, I can credit my accomplishments to a few key attributes, which I know will help me achieve more in my future college experience. I am a fully committed, passionate, and coachable athlete. I never stop fighting until the match is over, regardless of the scoreline or the opponent. I am also a good team player, winning tournaments with unfamiliar partners. 

I am grateful to have discovered tennis as a lifelong passion. My journey has just begun, and I look forward to continuing it in college tennis.