Being an athlete means a lot to me. It’s something I’ve dreamed about my whole life, and over the past four years of playing tennis, I’ve been able to achieve it. But what does it really mean to be an athlete? To me, an athlete is someone who trains hard in any sport with the goal of reaching their personal best. Everyone’s goal is different, and each person trains in their own unique way. But being an athlete isn’t just about practicing day and night. It’s also about fitness, nutrition, and making sure you get enough rest. We’re all in the same boat, but some of us have bigger goals than others.
Ever since I was little, I begged my family to sign me up for tennis lessons. The first time I saw the sport, I fell in love with it immediately. And now, here I am, hitting the ball like crazy for 20 hours a week and enjoying every single minute I spend on the tennis court. I’m a very ambitious person with big dreams. I want to win as many Grand Slam titles as possible and be ranked number one in the world for several consecutive years. But for now, my short-term goal is to keep improving every day, little by little.
Currently, I train at the ACS Athens Tennis Academy, and I’m so happy to be part of this program. The training sessions at ACS Athens are incredible. We do both tactical and technical training, along with swimming and fitness once a week. The tennis sessions happen no matter the weather, which I really appreciate. The coaches are kind, professional, and supportive. All the coaches have helped me a lot, and I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done for me and helping me to grow as a player and person. ACS is the best tennis academy I’ve ever been to, and I deeply thank all the coaches for their hard work and belief in me.
Iris D., 13 years old