When Donald Young was 10 years old and working as a ball boy, he was approached by tennis legend John McEnroe.
McEnroe invited the Atlanta native to warm up with him, before making an observation.
“You have hands like another lefty I know very well,” McEnroe said, referring to himself.
Not too long after the experience, Young became a phenomenon. Coached by his parents, who run the South Fulton Tennis Center in College Park, he distinguished himself as a young standout.
In 2007, the 18-year-old became the youngest player to finish in the top 100.
The same year, he made a breakthrough on the ATP circuit by winning his first match and advancing to a third round at the U.S. Open, his Grand Slam-best.
Young is competing in the Atlanta Tennis Championships, where he lost to Kevin Anderson 7-5, 6-3 in the second round Thursday.
Q: How did it affect you to start your tennis career as such a young phenom, and what do you have left to accomplish?
A: I've been traveling and playing a lot, with not too much time at home to do a lot of regular kids stuff at home. When I'm home I try to do those things now, whether that's Six Flags, going to the park or the movies. I play video games, and I really like reading a lot on my own on my Sony Reader.
I feel like I’ve been successful, though probably haven’t won as much as I want to. I’d like to probably make top 10, win a Slam and have a few titles to my name.
Q: Any books you’d recommend?
A: I just finished [Andre] Agassi's book, and I'm reading this book, "As a Man Thinks." It's the kind of book you read seven to 10 times, a small self-help-type book.
Q: Has anything matched meeting John McEnroe and having him pay you such a high compliment?
A: That was pretty much it. I've met a lot of people and know a lot of people, but none stick out like that.
Q: What is it like having your parents be your coach for so much of your career?
A: It's tough at times. You can't be too disrespectful to your own parents. They hold the rein. But no, really nobody knows you better than your own parents. They've been around the game and they know tennis, so it's been great.
Q: If you could have your choice of the Grand Slams, in what order would you rank them?
A: U.S. Open, Wimbledon. French and then Australian, but it also switches depending how you're feeling because French can be there up high, especially for an American.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
