ATLANTA, Ga. — More than a dozen homeschoolers broke a sweat practicing their swings and moves at tennis courts where Atlanta-born stars of the sport trained.
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They’re students in the South Atlanta Community Tennis Association. Sam Kennedy has coached tennis at the South Fulton Tennis Center since 2013, but started playing tennis 60 years ago. He’s something of a legend in the Atlanta tennis community.
“I like to see them grow,” he said. “The game of tennis can make you grow. We always use the theory of the three ‘L’s’: Look, listen and learn.”
Atlanta-born tennis stars Chris Eubanks, Taylor Townsend and Cocoa Gauff all spent time practicing at the South Fulton Tennis Center, with Eubanks and Townsend occasionally visiting – and motivating – young players.
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Twelve-year-old Moriah Sales has stardom in her eyes. She’s played tennis since she was just three years old.
“It’s just knowing that I want to become one of the greats,” she said.
Channel 2’s Bryan Mims asked her if she dreams of making it to the U.S. Open.
“Yes! And win!” she said.
She has been watching the U.S. Open, and she’s overjoyed that another Atlanta-born star, Ben Shelton, won a marathon quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz. Then Cocoa Gauff beat Mirra Andreeva in a thrilling comeback Wednesday.
Coach Kennedy said major tournaments like the U.S. Open tend to bring out new tennis players, hungry to learn the game.
Fourteen-year-old Salamah Davis started playing about a year and a half ago and would very much like to become a tennis pro.
“Because my family played,” she said. “I just like it better than all of the other sports.”
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