by Karen Scherberger Henrie

“Send her to girl school.” As a child, that was a refrain I heard frequently from my oldest sibling, Mark. A tomboy through and through, I spent my early years playing rough and tumble sports with the kids on the block. I recall great pride at taking a hockey puck to the mouth and dripping blood on the ice like a real pro. I played organized soccer, fast-pitch softball, and basketball throughout my school years, and spent my twenties and early thirties playing adult women’s soccer indoors and out. Four months pregnant with my first-born at age 33, I made the tough decision to hang up my cleats, but remained active by swimming and running. I commemorated turning 40 by training for and completing the NYC marathon.

More than just another sporting event, tennis is a passionate reaffirmation of the power, freedom, and raw competitive spirit I’ve enjoyed since childhood.

That was also the year I picked up a tennis racket for the first time—and fell in love with the perfect sport for the rest of my life. I lack the graceful strokes and blistering serves of my friends who grew up playing tennis. I celebrate small improvements in my drop shot, topspin, and volleys. But I move like a natural athlete on the court, have good soft-focus and mental toughness, and can run down most any ball. I love to compete and hate to lose, but do so gracefully. I relish the camaraderie of team play and the raucous fun of social tennis on a Friday night, and nothing beats the pure joy of playing tennis under the lights in early fall before the nets come down. I eagerly look forward each year to our pilgrimage to Queens to wander the grounds and take in the matches at the US Open. And I sit on the editorial board of COURTGIRL Mag.

More than just another sporting event, tennis is a passionate reaffirmation of the power, freedom, and raw competitive spirit I’ve enjoyed since childhood. Oh, and of course, like women tennis players everywhere, nothing makes me happier than sporting an adorable new tennis outfit. Girl school, indeed.

Karen is the Editor of Deloitte Insights in CIO Journal and CMO Today from The Wall Street Journal & is on the Editorial Board of COURTGIRL Mag.