When Isabella Ruyu Yan grins, and also you see her braces and small stature, you would possibly consider her as cute or candy. However when the 13-year-old steps onto the tennis court docket, there isn’t any mistaking her laser focus and want to crush her opponents.
That steely willpower has seen the younger participant from Regina win three nationwide titles in a row: U12 in 2023, U14 in 2024 and most lately the U16 nationwide title — toppling gamers two years older and larger than her.
“It is tremendous insane that I gained U16 nationals,” Yan stated after returning to her dwelling court docket on the Lakeshore Tennis Membership. “I by no means thought I may win nationals in the beginning, however the second you win that final shot, it is superb. I really like the sensation of profitable.”
Requested if she will get intimidated by taking over greater opponents, she’s uncertain for a second.
“Principally individuals are intimidated by me as a result of I am actually quick and small,” she says with a smile.
Her coach and pa say there isn’t any one in Saskatchewan, child or grownup, that can provide her the competitors she wants
Yan’s mother and father could be her largest followers. Her dad Sam Zhou describes his daughter as “his little sweetheart,” but additionally marvels at her lethality on the court docket.
“Each single time she sees the ball coming, she needs to hit it laborious,” he stated.
Since Yan began enjoying at seven, Zhou has devoted himself to serving to his daughter obtain her potential, working two jobs in paratransit and trucking to assist her together with her coaching and journey competitors prices.
“You bought to sacrifice, proper?” he stated.
Regina tennis participant Isabella Ruyu Yan is 13 years outdated. Simply final month she added one other nationwide title to her record of wins. She is decided to make it to a Grand Slam sooner or later and will not let her age or measurement cease her.
Each of Yan’s mother and father give credit score to her coach Marek Nehasil, saying she would not be the place she is with out him.
Nehasil stated that whereas there are parts of the sport Yan must work on, what she actually wants is to journey internationally for competitors. That might ideally get her some Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) factors to maneuver to the next stage of tournaments.
“She’s a really dedicated participant.… Hopefully she will be able to keep dedicated,” Nehasil stated.
Yan already has one sponsorship by sports activities model Head (though she goals of the last word partnership with Nike), however her father says even smaller corporations would profit from partnering together with her now.
“She is the one. In my thoughts, I by no means doubt it,” he stated. “This younger woman, I assure you, in lower than three years, you will note her on nationwide TV.”
And though in tennis, love means zero — to this dad and daughter, love means every thing.
“If I did not have him, I’d clearly not be within the spot the place I am in. He is been there by my highs and lows,” Yan stated. “I am actually grateful for him.”
When describing the game of tennis, Yan compares it to utilizing a fly paddle. She provides her hand a swing, imagining holding a racket, and tries to think about the precise analogy.
“It is like I’m killing a fly.”
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