1 minute read
THE MONTH
Ethan Chung has been dedicated to tennis since he was only 8. Nationally, he is ranked 58th in the class of 2025 and is a 5-star recruit, as listed on the Tennis Recruiting Network website. He plays in both the school tennis team, which started at the beginning of February, and for junior tournaments outside of school.
Chung began playing tennis when he was 8 years old, living in Korea, because his dad played and wanted him to try it out. Though he played other sports, like basketball and soccer, he stuck with tennis and soon began competing in matches.
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Chung likes the sport because though it’s combative, it is a battle of skills.
Said Chung, ”Playing is a joy every time I step on the court. Even if I’m tired, and I see a tennis court, I just always get so excited.”
That passion for the sport drives him and makes the time commitment and hard work worth it.
Over his seven years playing tennis, Chung has learned skills that translate off the court as well, like being able to perform well under pressure and regulate his emotions. Said Chung, ”Tennis made me become a better person.”
Tennis also gives him the opportunity to travel across the country. Said Chung, ”It’s helped me spread my knowledge of the country.” He travels often for competitions, usually once or twice a month to places all around California and even Alabama and Oklahoma.
Though tennis is an individual sport, the
61st team is a major component. Each match he plays, he said, ”I’m not only fighting for my win, but I’m also fighting to contribute to the entire team’s victory. I feel very proud when I can be a part of the team’s achievements.” Playing with a team also brings more energy and support to the games, and it’s fun to celebrate together after games.”
A typical practice lasts around two hours where he practices strokes and patterns with his partner, and plays sets.
As a student athlete, Chung said balancing school with tennis can be hard but he knows how to manage it, ”I make the best of the time that I have.”
He watches professional tennis games and interviews, and looks to players like Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as inspiration. By studying them, he strives to replicate qualities and improve. If he had to choose a favorite shot, Chung thinks it might be his forehand.
Outside of tennis, he enjoys playing guitar in Cupertino High School’s unofficial guitar club, listening to Korean music, the Beatles, watching “Ready Player One” and older movies like “Jerry Maguire.
In the future, he hopes to play professionally or part-time and compete internationally to travel around the world and experience all it has to offer
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