She is an accomplished tennis athlete who has been a starting varsity player for three years at San Marin. The tennis captain who hasn’t lost yet this season: meet Clare Zhu. Zhu joined the San Marin tennis team as a freshman in the fall of 2022. She started playing because of her dad, who she says is her key mentor. His influence has made her the player she is today.
Zhu has gained skills such as better focus and teamwork skills from tennis. Her discipline, consistency, and commitment to her sport have grown and developed from her experience. Her coach, Christy Sherley, advocates for her by explaining how Zhu supports her team.
“Clare influences the girls to work hard,” Sherley said. “She also designed this year’s swag and the girls wear Clare’s design with pride… She is undefeated and a great candidate for Player of the Year!”
Zhu loves tennis because she finds it to be something that she can do every day. Her friends and teammates have supported her throughout her tennis journey.
Zhu’s skills drastically improved from when she started five years ago to where she is now. She attributes that improvement to her team as well as her coach.
“She (Sherley) has made me into the player I am today,” Zhu said.
Zhu plans to play tennis in college for a team that doesn’t take as much commitment as a Division I team. She added that she wants to focus on her academics as much as she wants to focus on tennis. When she can’t practice with her team, she practices with her dad at home. She advises that tennis requires a lot of focus.
“Remember that every point counts and having focus on the opponent counts,” Zhu said.
