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Published: August 3, 2009, Richmond Tennis Association website

McDonald developed passion for game hitting against the wall

by John Packett, RTA Staff Writer

When Toni McDonald was 6 years old, her father took her to Fairfield Elementary School and let her hit a tennis ball against the wall.

"She just kept hitting it and running after it," dad Toney McDonald recalled in an interview at Byrd Park on Monday.

"We were there for a good hour or two and she didn’t want to stop. She was pouring sweat, but she wanted to keep trying and keep trying. I knew right then that she had a passion for it."

The younger McDonald has continued that passion for the sport, and it’s brought her success on and off the court.

A 4.0 student at John Rolfe Middle School who will be a freshman at Varina High School this fall, McDonald was chosen to attend a National Junior Tennis League camp at the University of Denver last month and also spent a week learning the game at William and Mary earlier this summer.

In addition, McDonald, 14, helped the Richmond Nomads win the USTA Virginia State District team tournament at Bon Air recently, and the squad has advanced to the sectionals Saturday and Sunday at College Park, Md.

That winner qualifies for the USTA Junior Team Nationals in Mobile, Ala., in October. In this format, a match consists of a girls and boys singles match, a girls and boys doubles match and a mixed doubles match. The winner is determined by total games won. No-ad scoring is used.

McDonald played mixed doubles in the district tournament with Greg Akerman. Other members of the team include Leah Maready, Madeline and Emily Wills, Thomas Risenhoff, Ehab Ali, Aaron Silverstein and Caroline Mareno. The coaches are Brian Randolph and Lynn Maready.

"[Her dad] was the reason I started," said Toni. "He played tennis and I watched him play. Then I wanted to be different because everybody else plays basketball and stuff, so I wanted to do something that other people usually don’t do."

The first step for McDonald after her dad saw the dedication and promise against the wall was working with Paul Manning at U-Turn.

"He did a tremendous job, as far as not just tennis, but he taught them life skills, problem resolutions, personal hygiene, strength building, communication, all of which is important in tennis," said the elder McDonald. "It was just fantastic."

Toney McDonald played on the team at Armstrong-Kennedy High under coach Franklin Crawford.

McDonald’s mother, Sandra, has seen her daughter develop into more than just a tennis player.

"It has helped her in meeting people from all walks of life," she said. "It’s helped as far as bringing her up as a nice, respectable young lady. It’s a lot of ethics in tennis and that’s what I like about the sport.

"But it’s not just the tennis part of it. We’re really proud of the fact that she plays the game but academically, she excels, too. My thing is I love the tennis, and I’m so glad she’s involved in tennis, but she knows the two of those go together.

"If she wants to continue with the tennis, the grades have to be good. I’ve seen a lot of positives come into her life."

So far Toni McDonald has managed to balance her tennis with academics just fine.

"It’s hard," she said, "but it’s not that hard. Once you get used to having a good grade-point-average, it comes easier."

She considers herself an all-court player, not just someone who stays at the baseline and pounds away.

"I’m all over the court," she said. "It doesn’t matter. I try to be aggressive everywhere. People will try to get me in their game sometimes, but I try to stay in my game. I want to go all over the court, because that makes you get noticed.

"A lot of people practice just at the baseline, but I practice all over the court, so when I play, I can be good all over the court."

McDonald’s favorite player is reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and she patterns her game after the oldest of the Williams sisters.

"When I see her play, I kind of see me playing," she said. "I’ve never seen her give up on anybody and that’s how I am. I don’t give up. I just keep fighting, even if I know they’re better than me. And sometimes I might just win.

"I want to think of myself being better than her one day, even though she’s a lot better right now."

McDonald also finds time for volunteer work off the court, something she enjoys.

She helps her sister, Tiffany, at a day-care center on Nine Mile Road and mentors 6-year-olds with the Police Athletic League. During the week in Denver, the campers volunteered with World Vision, a Christian advocacy group dedicated to helping children and families in poverty-stricken nations.

More recently, McDonald has been working with Wayne Motley, Victor Rizzi, who runs the city’s recreational tennis program, and Ruffin Thornton to improve her game.

Last year, she swept the girls 14-under divisions in the Davenport City Junior Championships, teaming with Amber Policare in 14 doubles after winning singles and even moved up a division to capture the 16 doubles with Connor Brewer.

This year, McDonald teamed with Policare to capture the girls 14 doubles title.

"I like tennis because it’s different," she said. "It’s not what everybody else does, so you kind of stand out more."

And there are plenty of opportunities available for someone who can smack the little yellow ball accurately around the court.

"I got my love of the game in high school," said the elder McDonald. "Unfortunately, my life went in the wrong direction and I didn’t get to go to college. But my wife and I want to be there for Toni now as parents, to show her there’s great opportunities out here for African-American girls, if you just get involved in the game."

McDonald and the rest of the Richmond Nomads were recognized Monday night at the Legg Mason tournament in Washington. Yet another opportunity to be noticed and appreciated for playing a sport you love.

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