J. Adam Fenster/The Gazette
Walter Johnson senior Tiffany Lin isn't the typical power player, but she has won all but one of her high school matches over three years.
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Walter Johnson senior No. 1 singles player Tiffany Lin could probably play the wall and win. That's how consistent and determined she is.
As the Wildcats' No. 2 singles player the last three years, the 16-year-old Lin has lingered in the shadows of former No. 1 Lauren Wolman. But the two-time county No. 2 singles champion and three-time state girls doubles winner has lost just a single match (to Magruder's Ariel Burke in last year's county tournament semifinals) in three years.
In 2008, she will step into the No. 1 singles slot and get a chance to show the county what she's got.
"At almost any other school in the county she'd [have been] a No. 1 singles player," former Walter Johnson coach Mary Lafratta said. "And there aren't a lot of No. 1 players who can beat her. She's incredibly consistent and very focused. She'll let a point go on forever if need be. It's good to see her finally have to chance to compete where she could be."
Lin's approach to tennis is a breath of fresh air at a time when power is taking over the game. She doesn't win by blasting her opponents off the court with overwhelming groundstrokes or a booming serve. She's a cerebral player; more artistic.
Technically sound, Lin dissects her opponents' games; wears them down with her consistency and versatility.
Lin (14-1 in 2007) is an all-court player. She's got a plethora of weapons and the smarts to know how and when to use them. She can crack a winner when she wants. But also possesses the finesse shots and can use spin effectively. And she's quick-footed — there are very few shots she can't track down.
"You can say people have nicer strokes than me, but I keep the ball in play longer," Lin said. "And that's what it comes down to. I know some of the points I play can go back and forth like 50 times, but that's how I play. You have to be patient. And that's really helped me."
Tennis, for the most part, is an individual sport. And the top players thrive off remarkable internal drive. Lin has that.
She loathes losing. She'll do anything in her power to avoid it. But she also has good perspective. She knows tennis isn't everything. And that helps calm her match nerves.
If Lin gets any pre-match jitters, she does a good job of hiding them. She's a quick starter. And once she gets a lead, her style of play makes it hard for opponents to claw their way back.
Lin is quite focused on her individual results. But that doesn't detract from her team spirit. She likes the team aspect of high-school tennis — playing U.S. Tennis Association tournaments can be quite cutthroat. And team chemistry is a priority for her. She's stepped into a bigger leadership role this year as a senior and the team's top player. And she's relished in it.
"I'd like to say Tiffany doesn't get rattled, but I wouldn't know because she's so rarely behind," Lafratta said. "A lot of girls, you won't see their good stuff early because they start off tight and work their way in. Tiffany, she just starts playing well from the first ball. Her competitive drive is nuts. … She's a great team player. She always sticks around to support her teammates."
Lin first picked up a racket at age 5 because her older sister Debbie, now 22, played and she wanted to do everything her older sister did. But she quickly developed an affinity for it.
When Lin started high school, she was unsure she'd want to continue on in college. But playing for a team, having a support system like she's had at Walter Johnson, has changed her mind.
Lin hasn't made any decisions yet, but, depending on where she goes next year, she's keeping college tennis an option.
As Walter Johnson's No. 1 player, there'll be more pressure on Lin. She'll be out of the shadows and in the limelight. And, having done pretty much everything she could have done at No. 2 singles, she's ready for that new challenge.
"More people are going to be looking to me to win," Lin said. "But that's motivating, knowing people are counting on you. I think playing No. 1 is going to be a great opportunity. Most of the schools, the No. 1 player is a USTA tournament player but you get to No. 2 and fewer are. ... It'll be fun."
