The blazing California sun beats down on the hard concrete courts as shoes screech against the ground and rackets make sharp contact with tennis balls. The pressure to perform vibrates in the air. Amid the tension, senior co-captain and singles player Dora Chen emerges as one of the tennis team’s top contributors and leaders.
Since her freshman year on varsity girls tennis, Chen has grown into a valuable and integral member of the team. Despite a shaky start to the season, the Panthers have found their stride, winning with uncontested victories like 15-3 against Westridge School for Girls on Tuesday, Sept. 15 with Chen leading the way. The team stands near the Prep League’s summit with an overall record of 10-3 and a league record of 4-1. Chen has been an important contributor to the team’s stellar record so far and the senior backbone to the team culture.
Throughout the season, Chen has shown consistency in her performance, frequently sweeping her opponents with three straight victories in almost every game. As tennis rolls to a close, she has lost only one out of 30 matches. In the postseason last year, she reached the CIF individual semifinals, placing second in the league individual tournament. In addition to earning Poly’s Most Valuable Player award, Chen received first-team All Conference, All-Country, All-State and All-Region honors.
Head coach Manuel Davila commented that Chen’s mental game has reached a completely new level this year. “Her mental game, the way she communicates with her teammates, has drastically improved. I’m wholeheartedly positive,” Davila noted.
Davila also shared that Chen has an ability to break down each play with strategy and precision: “She has an eye for coaching, an eye for the game, and the technical side of it, 100%.”
Before discovering her passion for tennis, Chen explored a variety of athletic pursuits, including gymnastics and ballet. Her interest in tennis grew under the guidance of her middle school coach who taught her that while winning is important, success is measured in the athlete’s growth and development.
Now a senior and anchor of a team with many underclassmen, Chen has embraced her role as a calm, supportive leader. Freshman singles and doubles player Riley Yu commented, “Dora’s someone to look up to; she’s very chill even if you lose and will always have your back no matter what.”
While Chen’s passion for winning and work ethic is undoubtedly a vital part of the season, she is focused on savoring every moment she has in her final year with the team.
Looking to the future, Chen plans to take her talents into college, where she hopes to continue playing tennis. For now, she is focused on leading the Panthers into the CIF playoffs. The Poly community will be sure to continue supporting and cheering her on wherever she goes next.
