for the love of the sport

Looking at this picture I can take myself right back to summers on those courts. I rode my bike to the courts everyday, played for three hours and rode home. It was bliss…I loved every minute of my tennis summers.

I started the game with a tiny wood racquet at the age of 7, spending every summer there after in lessons. And then some winters, indoors too. I soaked in every part of the tennis world, watching every slam, knowing every pro…I loved my sport to its core.

In all of my years on the court it never occurred to me that there was a moment in time that we as females had to fight to play. It never occurred to me that we as females were denied the opportunity to be athletes, to compete equally. When I wanted to try a sport, I did just that.

In my adult years, I became aware that the women before me fought hard to give me and all other female athletes the right to compete. It is something now that is not lost on me, we (all female athletes)are their legacy.

Crazy thing though…in this moment in time where we as a nation have evolved in so many ways we female athletes are still having to fight for equality. There are moments I just don’t get why, why can’t we compete side by side, get paid the same, have equal opportunities? We are close but not close enough.

Answering that why question never seems to be simple…in my mind we shouldn’t have to ask. Equality in sport should be something we don’t have to think about, it should just be. Today, our young women are more aware of what being equal means, of following and idolizing female athletes that are empowering and inspiring. They are forward thinking and understand their rights and what TITLE NINE provides. We have continued the conversation, we are talking with our young athletes and educating them on equality and what is rightfully theirs to own. They are listening and they GET IT.

We with strong voices are speaking up and being heard. To be able to step out on the field, court, pavement, course etc and be able to do what brings us life-to do that without a thought or a fight that right there, that is a true right.

THANK YOU to the female athletes of our past-you risked and fought. Never will I take that lightly. Every stride forward, every step I take onto the court I will do it with gratitude. To the female athletes of our present who are living their passion, who are using their voices and standing in their power-THANK YOU. Our female athletes of the future are waiting in the wings READY. READY to fulfill their passion and will get to do that in my mind, with EASE and EQUALITY.