‘Tennis can make you grow’: Atlanta-born U.S. Open stars motivate young tennis players

More than a dozen young tennis enthusiasts were practicing their skills at a tennis court in Atlanta where several U.S. Open stars train. These students are part of the South Atlanta Community Tennis Association. Coach Sam Kennedy, who has been teaching tennis at the South Fulton Tennis Center since 2013, started playing at the age of 60 and is a well-known figure in the Atlanta tennis community.

He encourages his young players to "look, listen and learn" in the game. Atlanta-born tennis stars Chris Eubanks, Taylor Townsend, and Cocoa Gauff were among those practicing at the center, with Eubanks and Townsend occasionally visiting to motivate the young players.

Twelve-year-old Moriah Sales, who has been playing tennis since she was three, dreams of becoming one of the greats and expressed her desire to win the U.S. Open. She was thrilled to see another Atlanta-born star, Ben Shelton, win a quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open. Gauff also made headlines by defeating Mirra Andreeva in an incredible comeback match.

Coach Kennedy believes that major tournaments like the U.S. Open attract new tennis players eager to learn the game. For example, 14-year-old Salamah Davis, who started playing tennis about a year and a half ago, aspires to become a professional tennis player. She credits her family's love for the sport and finds it more enjoyable than other sports.