While sitting in a small interview room in Melbourne this January, Robin Montgomery could see that his dreams were more within reach than ever. Nearby, on Australian Open ground, another 15-year-old, Coco Gauff, was playing round four against eventual champion Sofia Kenin, having beaten reigning champion Naomi Osaka one round earlier.
“I hope I can be in his shoes soon,” Montgomery, who was competing in the junior tournament, said in January. “I definitely think it’s more possible now, seeing her do it. It gives me more motivation to do it and more confidence in myself to be able to do it. “
A month earlier, Montgomery had won the prestigious Orange Bowl title in the 18 and under division.
“My next goal is to break through the pros, play around 25K and hopefully get some wild cards in the bigger tournaments,” Montgomery said. “Then hopefully I have an outbreak.”
With a broad, embarrassed smile, Montgomery then corrected herself to “escape”.
A little over a month after leaving Australia, Montgomery would claim his first professional title, winning a $ 25,000 tournament in Nevada. But before the wild cards arrived for the big events, there was, in fact, an outbreak, with the coronavirus pandemic that closed professional sports. While Gauff had been able to play Wimbledon for 15 years – capturing the world’s imagination a year earlier – Montgomery was sidelined.
The wait came to an end on Monday when Montgomery made her Grand Slam debut at the United States Open, where she was the youngest player in both singles draws.
He fought brilliantly and showed his problem-solving skills to turn a lopsided game into a competitive second set, which he led 3-1 before falling 6-1, 6-3 to 23rd seeded Yulia Putintseva. Montgomery’s ample left-handed power was evident throughout the match, but underpowered Putintseva made a career out of neutralizing big hitters like Montgomery. Putintseva took advantage of Montgomery’s inconsistent serve to control the match at the end.
Though part of her was restless during the hiatus from sport, Montgomery said she found rejuvenating time at home.
“I’ve been working on my fitness and the things I can improve on the pitch,” he said. “I was changing little things, because at the end of the day it’s the little details that will make or break you.”
His longtime coach, Ali Agnamba, said that while the uncertainty was difficult for Montgomery, he was determined to make the time productive.
“One thing I made clear to her is that we can get something out of this thing,” Agnamba said. “Physical training and fitness, we can maximize that, and that can be what we get from imprisonment. We have tried to stay positive and think about what can happen when things open up. Someone, somewhere, will be ready; someone will not be ready. We wanted to be ready when things opened up. “
During the hiatus, Montgomery was able to train at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md., Near her hometown of Washington, D.C. Her mother, Gabrielle, first took her there at age 5, eager to find an outlet for infinite energy daughter.
“When Robin started walking and talking and had a lot of energy at 3, 4, I just put it in everything from swimming lessons to dancing to French,” said Gabrielle Montgomery.
Tennis proved to be enough physical and mental challenge to satisfy the young Robin.
“I always felt tired after training,” Montgomery said. “Feeling tired, honestly, made me feel good about myself.”
Junior Tennis Champions Center coaches said Montgomery never struggled to channel his energy productively.
“Robin is one of our hardest working and most dedicated players,” said Vesa Ponkka, senior director of tennis. “She is always there first thing in the morning and does her runs, and no one needs to watch her. She is very self-motivated. “
Ponkka said he caught Montgomery’s potential when he saw her shoot a match against a seeded player at last year’s US Open.
“Robin had no business winning that game,” Ponkka said. “She lost the first set 6-1 and that girl was overtaking her. And then Robin fixed himself, solved the problem, started serving and volleys and shot everything. Everyone was there – agents, high-performing USTAs – there were a lot of people watching. This showed me that he could do it under pressure. “
Frances Tiafoe, who grew up playing at the same tennis center and also won the Orange Bowl at age 15, called Montgomery her “little sister” and said he offers her advice whenever she asks.
“I really took her under my wing,” Tiafoe said. “He works very hard. It’s super professional. Lefty hitting the ball big is special. “
Tiafoe was in the gym when Montgomery was informed earlier this month that she had received a wild card for the main US Open draw.
“I look at Frances and say ‘See you at the Open’,” Montgomery recalls, beaming. “He ran out of the gym, kicked the door and is screaming. We were all really excited. “
Another hurdle followed the good news, however: a player from Montgomery’s training group at the tennis center tested positive for the coronavirus, meaning Montgomery couldn’t continue training at the center in the weeks before his Grand Slam debut. . Meanwhile, a series of retreats by top women allowed 593rd-placed Montgomery to claim an unexpected spot in the Western & Southern Open qualifying draw, where she had her first match against one of the top 100 opponents, dropping 6- 1, 6-4 to Sorana Cirstea.
Ponkka said he believed the tour interruption would make Montgomery’s lack of a great stage experience less of a problem than it would otherwise.
“Everyone is in the same boat,” he said, adding: “She is a very intelligent girl on and off the pitch, and I am confident she will play well. Nobody knows how far it can take her, but she’ll play good tennis there. “
The youngest player in the draw already has a vote of confidence from his eldest son: Venus Williams, 40, came out impressed by Montgomery after the two battled together this summer while Williams was in Washington.
“It looks like she has a bright future,” Williams said. “He seems to have ease with the hits and the natural power that comes. All it takes is time and perseverance. There is no limit to what a person can achieve as long as he believes in it. It’s all in the cards for her if she can make it happen. “
