AMANDA Gabrielle “Gaby” Zoleta, 13, has managed to earn podium finishes in numerous age group tennis competitions throughout the Southeast Asian region.
She was introduced to the game watching her aunts Bien and Bambi play in a lot of tournaments at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center at age four. During their teens, Bien and Bambi were reaping honors in many tournament, local or international.
“I got used to being taken to the Rizal Memorial Courts to watch them play. That’s when it started,” said Gaby, one day after reaching the semifinals of the 28th Andrada Cup age tournament’s 14-under girls tournament two weeks ago.
Bambi is considered as the second generation of the tennis-playing Zoleta siblings and that’s Karl, Borgy, Bambi and Bien.
Her dad Karl handed her a racquet during a break in the games of Bambi and Bien while watching them train.
One thing led to another. She started hitting the ball towards the net and soon, Bambi was learning how to play tennis.
Four years later she won her first title in just the second tournament she joined in their hometown in Lucena, Quezon.
Her first taste of a crown was at the 12 years and under 1st Pinoyislands.com National Age-group 2011.
Two years later, at age 10, she would win nine of 16 championships in tournaments that she joined in the Southern Tagalog region.
According to Bambi, who works as gym receptionist at Shangrila Hotel in The Fort, she teaches her nice as the young girl’s hitting partner.
“Ever since she started I’ve always helped. I was always ready to her hitting partner,” said Bambi.
With Bambi around, it was only a matter time before Gaby developed strength and power with serves, volleys and how she hits the ball.
Gaby plans to join the International Tennis Federation world junior competitions in India this year. This fulfills her dream to follow her two aunts’ footsteps and become the second generation Zoleta to have played in the world juniors. That is a privilege that the Zoleta family would like to see.