Submited by Greg Wrege

Lauren Embree contemplates her next shot as she waits for a serve in the USTA 18-and-under Clay Court Championships, which she won over the weekend.

Submited by Greg Wrege

Marco’s Lauren Embree readies to slam return in her winning final match of the USTA 18-and-under Clay Court Championship in July 2008.

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In nine quick years, although it may seem a lifetime for a teenager, Lauren Embree has reached a tennis plateau.

Since she grabbed a tennis racket at 8, hard work has been her way to success.

It helped, too, to have a brother, Keith, who was an outstanding player, winning the State 2A Tennis Singles Championship for Lely High, a year before Lauren did in 2007. She also won in doubles and, in Class 2A competition, in three years she has not lost a match.

But that’s the easy part. A load of tennis travel, across the United States and in foreign countries, has made life difficult and exciting in the United States Tennis Association world.

Last weekend she won her first 18-and-under USTA Clay Court Championship in Memphis, Tenn. — her first try.

On Aug. 3 she will be trying to duplicate the feat on hard courts, playing in the USTA 18-and-under Hardcourt Championship in Berkeley, Calif.

This tournament is important because the winner gets an invitation to play in the U.S. Open Junior competition in September.

“There are a lot of good players who will compete in hard court,” she said. “I am really playing well and feel confident going into hard courts, but there are a lot of good players playing well so we will see how it goes. Hopefully I will get a wild card into the qualifiers or main draw in the juniors.”

Embree, 17, has USTA rankings of fifth nationally and first in Florida for 18-and-under players. She held similar rankings while playing in 16-and-under competition.

Her clay court win follows her first pro circuit title. Embree did not take the first prize money in the Via Christi Pro Tennis Classic in Wichita, Kansas. Total prize money for the tourney was $10,000. As an amateur Embree was entitled to expenses, about $400.

She has also represented the United States in International Tennis Federation (ITF) matches. Last fall she was one of just three ladies to represent the U.S. in Italy. Other countries included Italy, Chile, Japan, Russia, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Thailand, Czech Republic, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Morocco and Argentina.

The U.S. didn’t win, but Embree won her two singles matches and partnered for two doubles victories.

She plans on playing another ITF match in August.

Until the hard court competition she is staying in Miami with her doubles partner, Rachel Saonitz and training at the Julie Steven Tennis Academy. She will travel with them to California.

“I love it over here, being with the family and traveling with them,” Embree said. “Julie is really helping me.”

On Marco her key man is Bill Marshall. He is in Canada for the summer.

“Bill has been amazing the past year or so,” Embree said. “I have been keeping in touch with him and he knows how I am doing. He has really improved my game and my fitness. I am finally in shape!”

With Embree looking to upscale her tennis action, it doesn’t look like she will be able to help the Lely team. Last spring she played limitedly and did not play in the district meet that would have qualified her for state again to defend her title.

Lely Coach Kevin Smith understands.

“Lauren’s the Tiger Woods of high school tennis,” he said.

She has caught the eye of numerous college recruiters.

“I have received a lot of phone calls from colleges,” she said. “At first it was overwhelming, but now I am just trying to narrow my choices.”

University of Florida, University of Georgia Tech and Georgia, University of North Carolina and Florida State University are tops on her list.

“Those are my top so far” she said. “I want to stay in the South with a big school and those are in the top 15 in the nation.”

She plans on making her college visits early, hopefully making her decision by the end of October.

“My plan for tennis is to play on a college team and then see what my results are,” she said. “Maybe I’ll have a shot at the pro circuit and try it out for a little bit.”