New England

Player Profile: Olivia Lincer

James Maimonis, Manager, Media & Communications | September 02, 2020

WINDSOR, CT – Olivia Lincer is one of the up-and-coming superstars in New England junior tennis. At just 15 years old, she has climbed the ranks of the Girls’ 18s division and currently sits at No. 2 (at the time of writing). On her 13th birthday, Olivia made the unprecedented jump from the 12s to the 18s age division, competed in her first tournament and won it. Now, two-plus years later, she has put the division on notice, winning the last four New England Super Six Championships she has competed in and gunning for the top spot.

 

We recently caught up with Olivia to learn more about her junior success, her tennis goals, and her relationship with her tennis-loving family.

 

How proud are you of the success you’ve had so far this year?

 

Tennis is my passion and I feel most alive when I am on the court. I am very proud of my development which is not necessarily measured by winning tournaments but by reaching the goals my dad and I have set for the year. We don’t follow the typical pathway of chasing points and rankings, but instead focus on meeting individual goals set in training. My recent success means a lot to me because it demonstrates how my years of hard work and dedication to the sport I love is paying off.

 

When and how did you make the jump to the 18s?

 

When I was approaching my 13th birthday, I was number one in New England in the 12s, and I decided to try some higher-level competition. I played my first 18s tournament on the weekend I turned 13 and was holding the winner’s trophy on my birthday. From there, I stuck around in the 18s and have enjoyed the challenge.

 

What made you realize it was time to make the jump?

 

When I saw that I could have competitive matches against the girls in a much higher age division, I knew it was time to make the jump. At 13 years old, I made it into the 18s Sectionals main draw and won two matches. That gave me confidence to continue.

Was it initially intimidating going up against girls much older than you?

 

I don’t feel intimidated by older girls but instead look at it as a challenge. I handle playing older girls by not worrying about who is on the other side of the net but instead look at it as any other match. Initially, I had to manage some negative responses from my opponents in the 18s, as well as their parents, as they didn’t believe I belonged among them at such a young age. But, as I started to compete well and win matches, they began to accept my participation.

 

What major tournaments did you win in the 12s division?

 

In the 12s, some of my major accomplishments included winning New England Winter Sectionals, winning Little Mo Internationals, and playing on Team USA versus Canada.

 
What part of your game have you worked on most recently to get you to this point?

 

The biggest part of my game that I have recently worked on is confidence in my own style and learning patience and strategies against different types of players.

  

What did you do to stay busy during the quarantine, and did it help your game moving forward?

 

As I am used to online school and was able to continue working towards my fitness goals, quarantine was not as hard as I thought it would be. The increased fitness training helped me to have the endurance to handle the duration of the first few tournaments.

 

You won the first two New England L4s played in August without dropping a set. What was working for you during the tournaments?

 

My fitness level helped me to endure the whole tournament. I focused on keeping high confidence and intensity throughout every match, managing my emotions and fighting for every point. These tournaments were a great way for me to get back into the swing of competition and made me feel more prepared for upcoming events. 

 

Your sister Karolina has had some recent success in the 12s. What’s it like watching her and what is your relationship like?

 

I am very proud of my sister, Karolina’s success and am excited to watch her grow even more as a tennis player. She trains in the same program as I do at our family academy, Magic Lincer Tennis Academy, and we occasionally hit together too.  Karolina and I have a warm and supportive sisterly relationship and push each other to be our best selves.

 

How much of a role has your dad played in your success? What is your relationship like with him as a tennis coach/dad?

 

My Dad, Magic, has played the most important role in my tennis career as an incredible coach and mentor. I respect him immensely for his coaching abilities, knowledge and coaching experience. Off the court, we have a strong relationship and bond over many things, and my mom always tells me how much we are alike. He is my role model in every way and sets a wonderful example for me, my sister and all of his students.

 

What are your goals for New England tennis and beyond?

 

My goals in New England tennis are to play as many competitive matches as possible to gain more experience to improve my level of play. My goals overall in tennis are to receive a full scholarship to a Division I school and have success on the WTA tour.

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