OPTA Player Profile: Reese Sager

By Mike Holder:

Reese Sager began training at Olde Providence Tennis Academy in 2016. She has seen her game progressively improve over the last five years. Tennisrecruiting.com lists her as a five-star recruit and the 3rd ranked player in North Carolina, 18th in the southeast, at her age. The 15-year-old recently found success winning the Girls’ 18 Singles Red Draw at Charleston (S.C.) Junior Championships.

However, her success has not come without its share of adversity. Evgeny Slesarev (Director of Tennis Operations at Olde Providence Tennis Academy) reflected on obstacles Sager has overcome.

“Reese was always a top-ranked player but has had to overcome challenges with quite a few serious injuries and setbacks. Two years ago she almost quit tennis due to a rotator cuff injury but she did not. Instead, she switched to two hands on both sides to keep the impact of her injury to a minimum. Not surprisingly, due to her competitive nature, she was able to return to National Levels a year after her injury.”

Slesarev noted that she continues to conquer obstacles. “Just in the last few months, she has been battling a broken wrist and back pain but it does not stop her from showing up relentlessly on the court. I would like to wish her good health in the future because if she is healthy, she can get herself to the highest levels of this game!”

We had a chance to get Reese’s thoughts on tennis, her goals, playing style, and approach to the sport.

When did you begin playing tennis?

I started playing at 5.

Who or what inspired you to start playing the sport?

I tried other sports and liked tennis the best.

What are some memorable moments playing the sport thus far?

My favorite moment was playing zonals and winning with my zonal team.

What do you see as your strengths on the court and what areas are you looking to improve on to become a better player?

My strengths are I can change how I play to be able to beat other players. I’m trying to work on consistency and getting more spin on the ball.

How has OPTA and its coaches helped your game improve?

The coaches attention to detail helps me the most. As a 2 handed player from both sides, my coaches took the time to teach me a stroke that most players do not use.

Where do you see yourself with tennis in 5 years?

My goal is to be playing at a top-level college tennis program in 5 years.

Do you have any professional players who inspire you and how?

I like Jen Brady and Amanda Anisimova. I like that Jen Brady spent a few years playing college tennis.

What do you enjoy doing away from tennis?

I like to hang out with my friends and listen to music.

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