Danielle Lao Gets Back to Wimbledon, and Makes the Most of It – The New York Times

Inspired, Lao pushed on and qualified in singles for the 2017 U.S. Open and, just as importantly, the 2018 U.S. Open.

The pandemic, which shut down the tour for several months, could have knocked Lao out of it. Instead, she bought a stationary bike, assembled it with her sister, and focused on fitness before returning to the court and the tour.

After struggling in her recent tournaments, she arrived at Roehampton for Wimbledon qualifying with her new traveling coach, the tour player Irina Falconi. Lao settled into a deep groove and found herself up 6-3, 4-1 on Ursula Radwanska in the final round of qualifying.

I started to think, oh my goodness, Im so close to Wimbledon, its right there, she said.

This time, she calmed her mind and closed out the final set, 6-2. After watching Sampras tear up at Wimbledon, Lao can now relate.

When I sat down, I covered my face with a towel a little bit, Lao said. But when Irina and my boyfriend came around, I was, like, they cant see me cry. The tournaments not over yet, and this was a straight setter. This is embarrassing. But that evening, I was thinking about it and joking with them, and I told them, It took 23 years to get here guys, but we made it!

Win or lose on Monday, one journey is complete.

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Danielle Lao Gets Back to Wimbledon, and Makes the Most of It - The New York Times

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