Lindsay Gills '18 Recruiting Profile

    It's 1999 and it is a great year for American tennis. Agassi wins the French Open and Davenport wins Wimbledon. That year another Lindsay (me) is  born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 09/09/99. Therefore, my favorite number is nine. So being named after a professional tennis player means you have a tennis racket in hand as a toddler especially when your dad is a tennis fanatic. Being an only child and a girl means listening to your dad talk tennis and how Billie Jean King paved the way for girls to play sports. Like Billie Jean, I love doubles and the team aspect of tennis.

    I am one of the hardest workers you will ever meet. Often, I am the first and last person on the court. In the past two years I have worked on my forehand and backhand. Because I started playing at a young age, I had a western grip on both strokes. Coaches even called me "Hawaii". I knew I needed to change my grips in order to get better. Last summer I worked intensely on my forehand. This summer, I concentrated on my backhand. This was extremely challenging mentally and physically.  There were days of frustration and doubt. However, the hard work and sacrifice improved my game dramatically.

    On the mental side, I am learning to let go and relax. Because I have OCD and anxiety, I have spent most of my life trying to be perfect. However, the only way to get better is by making mistakes. When I get down on myself, I use power words and hold myself accountable. Also, I think of my role model, Rafael Nadal. Every time Nadal plays a match, I analyze how he redirects his OCD and anxiety in a positive way. By imitating Nadal's behavior and using power words, my mental game has made major strides. My goal is to keep improving mentally, continue developing my game, and contribute to my college team.