Making quite a racket

Gig Harbor’s Christy Sipes looking ahead at tennis career

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

She gives her opponents what her coach and teammates refer to as “the look.” With a stone cold stare, a gaze used in card games like poker, Gig Harbor High School sophomore tennis player Christy Sipes fixates her eyes on the state prize. It won’t be easy.

As a freshman last year, Sipes steamrolled her competitors with a conservative game plan to the state finals.

It was that type of strategy — playing not to lose instead of risky winners — that eventually caught up to her in the 2007 Class 4A state championship match.

Despite dislocating a rib in the Narrows League tournament last year, Sipes didn’t lose a set leading up to the state finals.

But she wound up losing to Prairie High School’s Natalia Agarycheva, 6-4, 6-4.

“I was a little more nervous that match,” said Sipes, a 16-year-old right-hander. “I really wanted to win, but I knew I’d have more chances.”

Sipes’ mother, Wendy, has three other children, but Christy is the youngest. She said many opposing teams’ coaches were surprised at her talent, because she was just a freshman.

Giving a much bigger and stronger senior like Agarycheva a run for the state title has given Sipes the inclination that winning the state tournament this year is achievable. That chance will come Memorial Day weekend at Vancouver, Wash.

Meanwhile, Sipes has been working hard at a club tennis court in Tacoma. She has a new serve that could help her earn the No. 1 spot in 2008.

But Sipes already thinks a Decatur Gator freshman named Meghan Cassens, with whom she competes at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club, could be her toughest opponent — if they meet.

So far, Cassens has won more matches, but Sipes remains confident that anything can happen.

With a flawless record this year, her actions speak much louder than her personality off the court.

Humble and quiet, Sipes doesn’t ramble about her game or describe with an analytical tongue how she plans to improve. She listens carefully to her professional tennis coach — and personal mentor — Mark Hanson.

Sipes said she’s seen more improvement in the past year since she began working with Hanson.

“He’s helped me out with my confidence and serve,” she said.

Sipes is without a doubt the best player in the Narrows League. The competition is so easy for her that she doesn’t plan to return for her junior or senior seasons.

That means this will probably be Sipes’ final year with the Tides — and coach Jen Clarke isn’t thrilled about it.

After bulldozing opponents her freshman year and barely losing to a favored senior in the state championship, Sipes’ first national tournament two weeks ago might have been the biggest wakeup call in her emerging career.

As an unseeded player, she lost to the No. 1-seeded player 6-3, 6-3. After going to the consolation bracket — and with added pressure to stay in her first national tournament — she lost 6-1, 6-1 in windy conditions.

In her high school career, Sipes had never lost two matches in a row.

“Since I did it, I’ll know what it’ll be like,” she said about upcoming national tournaments. “I’ll just have to get used to it and adjust.”

Outside of tennis, Sipes runs cross country for the Tides. It’s a sport she believes is fun — and great conditioning, when she’s not playing her favorite sport.

Regional rankings have Sipes placed in the Top 20 in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.

National rankings place her at 156th after losing at a national tournament April 7-8 at Palm Springs, Calif.

While Sipes may be disappointed when she loses, she said she doesn’t dwell on it.

“It motivates me more,” she said. “I like getting better — and I’ve seen it more in my matches.”

This year, Sipes’ goal is to win the state championship. Clarke, her high school coach, said that when Sipes is on the court, “She’s all business.”

Picking up a racket

Sipes isn’t one of those tennis players whose parents were exceptional high school or college athletes.

At age 10, Sipes came to a one-day camp at Gig Harbor High School and picked up a tennis racket. She became interested, so her mother signed her up at the Fox Island Tennis Association.

Sipes remembered being coached by Sue Spencer.

“She made playing tennis a lot of fun,” she said.

Sipes played her first tournament in Bellevue when she was 13.

“I lost,” Sipes said, emphatically.

Between the ages of 13-15, Sipes practiced at various tennis clubs, from Bremerton to her current club in Tacoma.

Gradually, her tennis game improved. Now, Sipes is looking to play for a Division I college. Two of her ideal schools are Georgia Tech or Stanford.

Since elementary school, Wendy, Sipes’ mother, has homeschooled her. As a result, her schedule is more flexible, so she’s opportunities to compete in more tournaments.

Sipes thought about what it might be like not going to a public school like most other teenagers, but she said this is her best move.

“I thought about it, but I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now,” she said.

Sipes added that other young tennis players with D-I potential are also homeschooled.

Sipes participates in about two tournaments per month. There was a recent period when she and her mother were gone five weekends in a row from the Tri-Cities to Vancouver, Wash.

“That got really old,” Wendy said.

As of now, Sipes is playing a lot of tennis and trying to build her resume of tournament experience.

A new toss — which has improved her balance — is one of the new things she’s incorporating to elevate her game.

“I’m going to take tennis as far as I can,” she said.

Reach Sports Editor Marques Hunter at 253-853-9243 or marques.hunter@gateline.com.