Davenport on how tennis changed her life: “It gave me opportunities I never knew existed”
Tennis News
Lindsay Davenport was the latest interviewee on Hall of Fame Live, as the Grand Slam-winning star spoke about getting into tennis and how it changed her as a result growing up.
“I just always wanted to play. Most of my friends became friends from the club, and it just became kind of a way of life. It was by chance that I happened to find that, and find something that I wanted to do so badly,” said Davenport on Hall of Fame Live.
"I just couldn't get the racquet out of my hands.”
"Fortunately, that put me on a path that I never got off of."
Davenport defeated Hingis in straight sets to win her first major title at the 1998 US Open: "We went out that night, everybody, which never happens," said Davenport.
"I couldn't do anything because I had the doubles final the next day, so I was the first one to leave my champion's party!"
Taking time out of now having a career as a pundit due to Coronavirus, Davenport has reflected on how tennis has changed her life.
"My career now, it led me to my husband, it obviously has given me my family. It gave me opportunities I never knew existed."
"It gave me purpose," Davenport added. "I’m sure it kept me out of trouble -- you know, I was too busy practicing or doing anything else to want to go and do anything bad in my teenage years! It’s given me almost all of my relationships and friendships throughout my life. I always feel like I was incredibly blessed to be introduced to that sport when I was five or six years old."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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