Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
August 9, 2002, Washington Post

Courting a Dream

Sometimes, Phillip Simmonds, a highly ranked 16-year-old tennis star from Reston, finds himself dreaming. Like last year, when Phillip was watching America's hottest young tennis pro, Andy Roddick, at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

"I was in a daze," Phillip remembers. "The crowd, the match, the excitement. I started thinking that it could be me out on that court in a few years."

Phillip does not just spend his time dreaming. He is working hard every day.

During the regular school year, Phillip attends a school in Herndon with small classes that include several local, world-class athletes. When Phillip leaves school at 12:30 in the afternoon, his day is far from over. He practices tennis for four to five hours almost every day under the watchful eyes of his coaches, Vesa Ponkka and Ni Chang Hong. Then, just like any other high school student, Phillip has to do his homework.

Practice doesn't seem like work for the 6-foot-3 tennis player. "It is definitely one of the more fun things I do," he explains. "I am around my friends and we are all working hard."

Tennis was love at first smash for Phillip, once his father, Denzil, put a racket in is hands at 2 years old. "I enjoyed the game right away," Phillip says. "I loved hitting the ball as hard as I could and just going for it."

As much as Phillip loved tennis, he didn't give all of his attention to the sport. He had posters of Michael Jordan on his bedroom walls and he played basketball for South Lakes High School as a freshman. He also was a pitcher, catcher and shortstop in the Reston youth baseball leagues. And he avoided watching tennis matches on TV.

"I watch tennis now," Phillip says. "I have to learn the strategy of the game and where I should position myself on the court."

All the practice and studying is beginning to pay off. Phillip has a busy schedule of summer tournaments in Philadelphia; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and even South Africa. "I have been on every continent except Australia, playing tennis," Phillip says. "Traveling has given me an appreciation for what we have in America. After seeing poverty in different places, I stop myself when I start saying I want this or I want that."

But Phillip Simmonds wants to be the best tennis player he can be.

And he is still working on that dream.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's Friday sports column and is the author of sports novels for kids. Write to him at KidsPost, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071. Or e-mail (with "The Score" in the subject field): kidspost@washpost.com.

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