Embarking on a Journalism Career
Embarking on a career in journalism often begins with internships or freelance writing gigs that help develop a reporter’s portfolio. One of my early assignments post-graduation led me to Virginia Beach, where I covered a national youth tennis tournament in July 1990.
The Tournament Experience
I arrived at the USTA Girls 16s National Clay Court Championships only to find a sparse crowd and unfamiliar finalists competing for the title. The sports editor had requested a brief piece on the event, only needing about a dozen inches of text.
The final match pitted the second-seeded Kori Davidson against the fourth-seeded Lindsay Davenport, who had just dispatched the top seed Jill Craybas in the semifinals. Observing Davenport, who was a newly minted 14-year-old towering at 6-foot-2, it struck me how her physicality contrasted with Davidson’s smaller frame—a factor that would ultimately decide the match. Davenport showcased dominant play, defeating Davidson decisively with a score of 6-3, 6-3.
Reflections on the Match
After the match, Davidson reflected, “I didn’t play as well as I thought I could have, but I don’t think I could have done much else. Her groundstrokes were on… She just whaled winners from everywhere.”
Davenport, gracious in her victory, took the time to speak with me afterward. In a candid moment on the bleachers, she mentioned how her performance in the tournament felt like a resurgence after a lackluster start to the season.
With her win, Davenport earned the prestigious two pendant-sized gold balls awarded to national champions in both singles and doubles—an accolade she shared with her doubles partner, Ditta Huber. I archived the write-up in my scrapbook, not knowing then how significant Davenport’s career would become.
A Journey Through Time
Fast forward seven years, while tuning into the U.S. Open semifinals, I suddenly recognized Davenport volleying against Martina Hingis; her playing style seemed familiar. Though not a tennis aficionado, I could see her signature tactics—aggressive baseline play accentuated by her height and powerful serves. Davenport’s evolution was evident, yet her essence remained unchanged. That year, she eventually claimed the U.S. Open title, defeating both Williams and Hingis, further solidifying her status in tennis.
Davenport’s Legacy
Davenport’s accomplishments grew from there, as she claimed 55 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including three Grand Slam trophies. In addition to having won an Olympic gold medal and numerous accolades, she held the world’s No. 1 ranking for a remarkable 98 weeks, amassing career earnings surpassing $22 million—an enviable feat compared to my modest earnings as a journalist over the same period.
Personal Reflections
Having only crossed paths briefly that day 35 years ago, I developed a sense of camaraderie with Davenport, cheering for her whenever I saw her success on the court. Regardless of the distance travels in our careers, I cherish the story I wrote that day, a reminder of the young girl who would go on to become a tennis legend. As for those gold tennis balls Davenport earned as a champion, her collection may be different now, but my memories from that day stay alive in my scrapbooks.
James Coleman is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, a part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @jcoleman. Support quality journalism by subscribing today.
