Hatridge Takes On All Challenges As She Grows Her Tennis Game

Tatum Hatridge is an expert when it comes to the differences in boys and girls tennis. The Salem High School senior has played them both.

The 2019 USTA Missouri Emerging Female Player of the Year competes on the boys’ high school team, since there aren’t enough girls to form a team, and competes in USTA events in the region. 

“It’s a fun experience,” Hatridge said. “I feel like it has its ups and downs. It helps when I play actual matches in high school, but when I play USTA tournaments against girls, there is a big difference. Girls tend to rally more and boys want to go for more winners.”

Tennis found Hatridge. She’s been playing four years now, since Salem tennis coach Will Hubbs approached her about playing the sport.

“I was at a basketball open gym and our high school tennis coach asked if I would like to play,” Hatridge said. “I was No. 6 on our high school boys team my freshman year. I was moved up to No. 1 my sophomore and junior years.”

Those successes helped motivate her to compete on the USTA circuit.

“I have played about 35 matches total in USTA,” Hatridge said. “I have enjoyed meeting new people, but it’s frustrating to adjust to how girls play.”

Despite those frustrations, Hatridge did well that first year out. Well enough to catch the attention of USTA Missouri.

“I was really shocked (to win Emerging Female Player of the Year) since it was my first year playing in these tournaments,” she said.

As a newcomer to the sport, Hatridge is still building her technical skills. But those who have seen her play see several intangibles already present.

“She is so competitive she’ll stay in a match no matter what,” Courtney Nesbitt said. Nesbitt is the USTA Missouri Junior Competition Coordinator. She has also coached Hatridge. “She is super athletic, very quick and she gets to every ball. Her serve has gotten a lot better for sure. She is much more powerful with it.”

It’s all pretty impressive for an athlete who doesn’t live near a traditional tennis hotspot. Much of her growth and improvement has been self-driven, with help from her family.