Former ball kid Carley Chen hopes to make impact at final Billie Jean King nationals

As a ball kid along about a decade ago, San Diego native Carley Chen marveled at the USTA Billie Jean King 16s and 18s national championships at the Barnes Center.

Now the recent Bishop’s School grad is approaching her fourth and final tourney appearance.

“We were like, ‘It’s so incredible that we were able to be ball kids and see these girls and how they were so driven playing a big tournament on such a big stage,’” Chen said. “We wanted to play that tournament as well, so having that opportunity has been, like, crazy.”

Tourney play, which began Saturday in the 16s, starts Sunday for the older division. Play continues through Aug. 10. 

It’s a farewell to junior tennis for Chen right on the courts where she has trained for the last five years in the Steve Adamson Tennis Academy.

Next, she embarks on college play at MIT.

“I feel like it’s always so surreal, seeing all of my friends from all around the country come to San Diego, so it’s always super fun to have them here,” Chen said.

“Obviously, they’re extremely high-level players, so the competition is very stiff.”

Chen won her first tournament match last year but lost the next to Alanis Hamilton, who has become a top player at the University of North Carolina.

“Carley’s a super well-rounded kid, and for the academy this last year, she’s been instrumental just as a mentor to our younger players in the program,” Adamson said. “They really look up to her, and she’s spent a lot of time really motivating them and being that really good role model for the kids.”

Chen began playing tennis at the suggestion of her parents, Lu and Shelly, both recreational players. Among her first experiences were on the public courts at Mr. Carmel High School in Rancho Penasquitos, relatively close to their Scripps Ranch home.

Although she was originally involved in swimming, Chen soon turned to tennis.

“I’ve never really seen it as, ‘Oh, I’m doing so much better because I’m winning.’ I’ve just always been a player who improves slowly and steadily,” Chen said. “I’ve never really felt like I’ve had had a breakthrough moment because I’m always just working at improving my game, and I feel like that’s just been a constant for me.”

The proactive right-hander is known for her movement on the court.

“I really like approaching, serving and volleying, and trying to take the ball earlier,” Chen said.

“That’s something I’ve always done, I’ve never really been a defensive player, although I have worked on developing my defense. That’s why I’m really a strong doubles player. I really like my volleys.”

Chen is one of four incoming players that comprise MIT’s recruiting class, which is ranked the best in Division III. The Engineers have long been a top-10 power in Division III.

“It’s a really great fit for me,” Chen said. “They have very strong academics, and I’ve been thinking of majoring in engineering. Also, their tennis team is very solid.”

But first, there’s the junior nationals, providing the kind of test that Chen values about playing the game.

“Tennis has given me so much and taught me so much, whether it be about myself or about the way to approach challenges,” Chen said. “Obviously, it’s a sport where you’re not going to win all the time. I’ve taken a lot of hard losses, and it’s honestly taught me so many lessons, like how to pick myself back up, how to get back out there.

“It’s also taught me how to deal with pressure. You run into a lot of nerve-wracking situations, and it’s honestly helped me in school and just in life in general. That’s a beautiful thing about the sport.”