May 15, 2008
Fords had a better idea
JAMES CITY - Tori Ford grew up aspiring to be a gymnast. Her brother, Chris, got his first exposure to competitive athletics as a soccer player.
The siblings scrapped those sports for one that could challenge their individual mettle. The move has served them well as the Ford’s have become the first family of tennis at Lafayette High School.
“I feel that every time you watch tennis, whether in person, or on television, it makes you want to play,” Tori Ford said in an interview.
Tori’s passion for tennis began when she was eight when she traded in her gymnastics tights and ballet and tap shoes for a tennis racket.
“In gymnastics I was always getting blisters,” she recalled, then divulged what lured her to the court.
“I was a little kid and you got to swing sticks and hit balls. I guess I was easily amused.”
Chris Ford decided to follow in his sisters footsteps that same year, switching from soccer to tennis. He quickly fell in love with the sport.
“Tennis is such an individual sport,” he said. “You only have to depend on yourself. You can only blame yourself.”
A decade later, brother and sister rank among the best players to take the court at Lafayette.
Tori has been a fixture in the Rams’ tennis program since she arrived at the school on Longhill Road. Her breakout season came last
spring when she captured the Group AA state singles title by beating John Handley’s Kristin Gordon 6-1, 6-4. It was the first state crown in girls tennis in Lafayette’s 35-year history.
“That state championship was definitely one of my most memorable matches, Ford said. “I go into every match expecting a good match, but I really don’t like losing.”
That hasn’t been an option this season.
The senior is perfect at 8-0 in both singles and doubles. She’s also been pleased with her team’s success, as the Rams have posted a 7-1 record in dual matches, The only blemish came early in the season with a 7-2 loss to The Steward School in Richmond.
Like his sister, Chris Ford has made an immediate impact on the Rams’ boys program.
Like his big sister, the freshman is 8-0 record in singles and doubles, including big wins against Grafton and The Steward School.
“He does a good job of mixing it up,” Tori said of Chris. “He can hit with power. He’s got the big serve and the kick serve (the tennis equivalent of an off-speed pitch). Plus, he’s extremely fast and that’s a big help on the court.”
Lafayette’s boys have thrived this season with Chris playing at No.1 singles, posting a 6-2 record, including a 3-1 mark against district competition.
Tennis is a way of life for the Fords, even when they’re not representing Lafayette. The siblings train up to 14 hours a week at the Kingsmill Tennis Center with Brent Hughes and his staff.
Both are ranked players in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States Tennis Association.
When they’re not playing tennis, they enjoy watching their favorite pros take the court.
The Ford’s have gone to the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y. each of the last seven years. They’ve seen all the top players perform, which leaves each pondering a dream match.
“I would like to play Roger Federer,” Tori said. “I think he’s so aggressive out there and I would like to see what I can do against him.”
Chris said he would like to take on Andy Roddick. “I want to return one of his serves, just to say, ‘I returned Andy Roddick’s serve.’”
As students of the game, Tori and Chris are both appreciative of players like Arthur Ashe and Serena and Venus Williams for providing African American role models in tennis.
“{The Williams sisters] brought an element of power and changed the way we play tennis,” Tori said.
Chris held similar praise for Ashe. “Tennis was always considered a white man’s sport or a rich man’s sport, and he broke down that barrier. Tennis was a thing he did for himself, not for other people. Now there are a lot of black kids playing tennis now then there ever was.”
Copyright © 2008, The Virginia Gazette
