Kayla Chan

Angela Chen (12) smiles with her winning Individual State bracket. Chen has been playing tennis since she was young. “Winning state senior year was such a rewarding experience,” Chen said.

Q: How did it feel to have won state?

A: Even though it wasn’t my first time winning, the overall feeling of winning individual or team state is super accomplishing and it makes playing the entirety of high school tennis worth it. It was satisfying to be able to end my high school career with a state title.

Q: How did you celebrate after you won?

A: Right after the individuals [game], we got Crumbl [cookies] for the car ride back as a victory treat.

Q: What are you most proud of, both during the state tournament and the season as a whole?

A: I was most proud of my mentality towards the end of the season. It was harder to remain motivated as the season went on, but when time came for the state tournament, I made sure to focus on the present without thinking about the results.

Q: What are you feeling now that the season is over?

A: I am definitely sad that the season is over, but also relieved because now that I have much more free time to split between my own training and schoolwork. My schedule is much easier to balance. 

Q: Now that the high school season is over, what’s next?

A: I am currently preparing for two National Level 1 Tournaments: Indoor Nationals in November and Winter Nationals in December. These two tournaments may be the last of my junior USTA career so I would like to play to the best of my ability and finish off my junior career strong. When my junior career comes to an end, I will start collegiate tennis at Yale where I wish to help my team win the Ivy League conference. 

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to a younger player on the team?

A: While technique is important, it’s about giving your fullest attention and effort to every ball and every point played. You are much more capable than you think and in order to be successful in tennis, it’s about the perseverance and grit that will separate the winner and the loser.