Interview With Teen Tennis Superstar Luciana Perry

Oxford Athletic Club is proud to interview one of the country's fastest up-and-coming tennis superstars.

Depending on your generation, when you think of the greatest tennis player of all time who comes to mind? It is Andre Agassi or John McEnroe? How about Serena Williams or Steffi Graf? Whoever you consider to be the GOAT, the same thing comes to mind - How did they do it? Surely practice and determination, an innately athletic gene pool perhaps?

We've been wondering what makes a good player a great one? Someone who is destined to be a star must have all of those qualities and that little extra something that makes them both aspirational and inspirational. Well, we thought we'd ask a star in the making exactly what makes them tick in order to finally solve the mystery - What makes an athlete a star?

Meet Luciana Perry, a vibrant young 16 year old from Murrysville, Pennsylvania. You may have heard of her - the young, up-and-coming athlete who is breaking tennis records and managing high school, all with a smile on her face. She is also the daughter of Tennis Pro Marianna Perry, an instructor at Oxford Athletic Club, so you could say it's in her blood.

Let's take TEN and get to know this tennis star in the making...

1. What age were you when you first started playing tennis?

I was always on the court with my parents so there was not an exact age when I started playing tennis. When I was about 2 years old, they realized I was hitting the ball against a wall back and forth. My parents were always busy developing other players, so my mom started teaching me when I was 6. I started training more seriously when I was 9.

2. What originally drew you to Tennis?

I grew up in a tennis environment and I always enjoyed everything about it. I discovered that I loved the competitive side of tennis, and sports in general, when I started traveling with my brother and sister for their sports.

3. Can you recall the first time you knew you had talent and could really go into this full time?

My mom, who is my coach, and I value the everyday process of trying to improve. I was never focused on whether or not I had talent, but more so on discipline. Even if I had lost every match and had no good tournament results, I would still be working as hard as I am today to try to find a way to get better.

4. Both of your parents are Pros, what influence did this have on you?

In my opinion, being a tennis pro requires a lot of patience, dedication, and hard work. I watch my mom and dad teach lessons everyday and I have always admired how patient and hardworking they are. I wanted to have those qualities, so I applied them to my everyday life and to my game. My parents are really inspiring and they have had a huge influence on me.

5. Do you play against your parents often? If so, is there a parent that is more serious or fun to play against?

My mom is my primary coach and has been since I was 5 or 6 years old. She plays with me everyday and runs my practices.  She knows so much about the game and I love learning from her. As a coach and a mom, she has always been very patient with me and she takes time to explain things which is really helpful. She truly is the best coach and a wonderful person. With my dad, we play other sports like football and basketball, which is always fun and we have a great time. I don’t play as much tennis with him but if we do, it gets way too competitive!

6. What is your highest ranking?

In USTA Girls 16’s National, my best ranking is #7.

7. What is your latest accomplishment?

I recently won a National L2 in Minnesota. The tournament was super well run and very organized. I was really grateful to be able to play because a lot of tournaments are being cancelled due to the pandemic. It was an overall great experience.

8. What is the most important element of your daily life today – on or off the court?

My family is one of the most important elements in my daily life, on and off the court. I am really close with my brother and sister, Craig and Natalia. We grew up playing sports together and I share a lot of great memories with them. We always support each other and they truly mean the world to me.

9. What are your goals for the future?

I just want to keep working hard to get better and keep raising my UTR so I can have the  opportunity to play college tennis. I have been to a few of my sisters’ college matches and I loved the energy and environment of the matches so I think it would be really cool to play on a college team in the future.

10. What is your advice for young players who are interested in tennis?

My advice to young players is to understand that tennis is a really fair sport and if you work very hard towards your goal, the sport will reward you. I also think that players should enjoy the process of growing because while they will be faced with many challenges, they will also get to enjoy many moments of accomplishment.

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