Hall of Fame Live with Lindsay Davenport
Lindsay Davenport is a 6-time Major Champion, former World No. 1, and an Olympic Gold Medalist so she’s no stranger to challenges. However, the challenge she’s most recently faced was remote teaching her four (4!) kids. The Hall of Famer took some time out of her busy schedule to chat with fans about how that went, to reminisce on her legendary career, and to comment on some of the hottest topics in tennis today.
Here are three things we learned about Lindsay in this week's Hall of Fame LIVE.
She bucked family tradition when she pursued tennis
As the youngest of three siblings, her older sisters were athletes who excelled in volleyball, and her Dad was a volleyball Olympian. Since she was too young to register to play with the high nets, her mother started the rounds of typical childhood sports to keep her busy while they played.
After a traumatizing green-hair experience in swimming, and taking a cleat to the shin in soccer, Lindsay welcomed tennis with open arms, and extraordinary talent! From the moment she first picked up a racquet, she loved the sport and spent all her spare time practicing.
She had some great role models growing up in tennis
When asked which players influenced her most, Lindsay pointed to a few familiar names, and fellow Hall of Famers. She said she loved to watch Chrissie Evert play on TV, and grew up in the same town as Tracy Austin so she was very familiar with the prodigy’s legacy in the sport.
But, Lindsay has always thought it may have been her contemporaries who left the greatest mark on her game. She says she didn’t see a place for her style of play on a professional level until she saw Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati in action. Their style mirrored hers and while watching them, for the first time, she thought maybe she could have a place on the professional circuit.
She had collegiate dreams before professional ones
Although she had an exemplary Junior's career, Lindsay’s modesty and humility kept her from thinking of a future in the professional arena. That is, until she met a Stanford coach. Upon telling him she hoped to one day play for the university , he responded that he didn’t think she would make it there.
She was crushed, until her mother explained to her that it was because he knew she would be turning pro before she had a chance to go to college. Talk about a coach who knows talent when he sees it!
Lindsay also weighed in with her thoughts on the 2020 US Open being held without fans, her rivalry with Venus Williams, and her favorite tennis drills. Watch the full interview below, and look out for special guest Madison Keys chiming in with a question of her own for her coach!
WATCH THE FULL HALL OF FAME LIVE
Do you want to be notified when we go live?
Leave your email address and we'll send you an email alert before our next Hall of Fame Live so you can join the conversation as it happens!
