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 Out of the ClayJunior player learns the game Bellevue Club junior tennis player Michael Smythies did not grow up on the tennis court. In fact, he’s spent more time on the beaches near Venice than the baseline. His mom, who’s Italian, and dad have family and friends in Italy, and Michael has been going there every summer since he was born. However, it was on their annual trip to Italy this past year that Michael, 14, caught a bad case of tennis fever. And his life may never be the same. Although he grew up playing the occasional match with friends, he began taking tennis lessons on the clay courts of Italy. He wasn’t sure if he would play for the Bellevue Club’s Junior Tennis Team when he returned, but his coach urged him to try. “It was pretty hard, when I first joined I didn’t know much about tennis. The first day was kind of bad, but I worked at it and got a lot better,” he says. At six feet with quickness and coordination developed on the soccer field as a striker for Crossfire Premier and mentoring from Club junior pro coach Zuzana Brogdon, his improvement was meteoric. “Michael has improved in such a short period of time, and really developed a love for the game,” she says. In his first season playing USTA junior tennis, Michael is competing with kids who have played since kindergarten—and loving it. “There’s a lot of kids at a lot higher level than me and they push me,” he says. Michael attended the annual Club junior state trip to Boise State this past year and says he learned a lot about improving his mental game. “Something they told me that I’ve found works really well is to close your eyes before you step up to the line and imagine a really good serve,” he says. “I thought it was silly, but it really helps. And after each shot, I just store it in mind.” Besides the competition, Michael’s favorite part of playing on the junior tennis team has more to do with the connections he’s made.  “I didn’t know anyone on the team when I started, but I have to say I made so many friends,” he says.And, when he goes back to play the clay courts of Italy next summer? “It’s hard to adjust because it’s much slower,” he says. “I like playing at faster speeds.” For additional Fitness information, please visit the Classes & Events page.
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Bellevue Club REFLECTIONS | 11200 Southeast Sixth Street Bellevue, WA 98004 | 425.688.3161 | reflections@bellevueclub.com
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