Sports
Forrester Falls at USTA Women's National Grass Court Championships
Lifetime player also owns a tennis coaching business.
She’s been around the sport her whole life, but Port Jefferson’s Esther Forrester had the chance to compete against some of the best tennis players in the country this week.
Competing in the USTA Women’s National Grass Court Championships in Forest Hills, Forrester lost her opening round match in the 30-and-over division to No. 2 seed Monica Rincon of Columbus, Ohio, but said the experience was invaluable.
"Playing on these courts at a national tournament is a once in a lifetime experience, especially because it’s so local," said Forrester.
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Tennis has been a way of life for Forrester from an early age. Originally a competitive runner, she switched over to tennis in junior high school and quickly began climbing the ranks.
"I started playing against a wall because no one would play with me, and eventually started taking some lessons," said Forrester. "I was so energetic as a kid that it was a great way to let all of that out. I definitely broke a few windows."
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After playing No. 1 singles on the Girls varsity tennis team at Port Jefferson High School, she went on to play Division I college tennis at Stony Brook University.
These days, Forrester is just as active on the court as ever. In addition to playing in USTA leagues at a number of clubs including Sportime Lynbrook and New Rochelle Racquet Club, she also plays in numerous sectional and national tournaments throughout the region.
"Tennis is such a big part of my life," said Forrester. "I’ll play anywhere and anytime. It’s a great way to keep in shape and give yourself focus, and is also a powerful networking tool."
The networking aspect of the sport has also translated over into her own tennis coaching business, Elf Tennis. With locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, the company is geared primarily towards coaching young children after school and on weekends.
"Having my own business has allowed me to fit in tennis, but I still work extremely hard," said Forrester. "As long as you earn the money, it doesn’t matter when you earn it."
With another national tournament in Florida scheduled for the end of the year, Forrester said she hopes to continue improving her game and climbing the ranks.
"You only live once and you’ve got to seize the day," said Forrester. "Plus, I hate the cold, so it’s an excuse to go to warm weather."
