I’m going to try to get through writing this post without crying. I’m on this whole positivity kick this week and today’s post is about someone that is very special to me. As you know, my grandparents played tennis professionally and sadly we just got worse and worse with each generation! Just kidding, tennis is something that our entire family shares and I’ve seen it connect people all over the world regardless of race, gender, location, etc. Sports are so powerful and it’s thanks to tennis that I was able to meet Stoney Cooks.

It’s been nearly 4 years since I moved to NYC and I remember arriving with a big blue suitcase and a purse. I didn’t bring my racquets or my cat which were like my two favorite things. I was so burnt out from college tennis and I had been playing literally my entire life — I just needed time away from it. It was only then that I realized how much I loved it. I remember meeting Gustavo Loza, who works for the USTA Eastern section. We had a very good mutual friend, Christian Orduña, in common and I remember thinking how crazy is this? We both know Christian in Mexico from different moments in time and we were both incredibly close to him at one point and somehow our paths crossed in NYC instead of Mexico. Anyway, Gustavo and I became friends through tennis, of course and then he helped me become a coach in one of the programs hosted by USTA Eastern. This is where I met Stoney.

My name is Stoney Nakoda Cooks. I am 12 years old, turning 13 in September, I attend LSS (Laurel Springs School) online and I will be going into the 8th grade in September. I was born in Manhattan and at the age of 3 years old I started learning in Spanish at the International School of Brooklyn, an IB language immersion school in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
I think we met when I was 10 years old. I was invited to participate in the USTA EDC (Early Development Camp) one weekend at Cunningham in Queens and I think I was the only girl of 4 players on your court (lol). It was later when I realized who your grandparents were and their history at Roland Garros.

Stoney is left handed and she was the only girl on the court and I found that so inspiring. Here I am a twenty-something year old running a court of tennis drills being amazed by a sweet little 10 year old?! What I remember the most is how sweet she was. She always said thank you after each session and she was always so respectful. I know some of you parents are going crazy because schools are closed and now you have your kiddos at home… Just think that teachers and coaches have to deal with your kids regularly. Now is a perfect time to teach them how to be nice and respectful like Stoney (and her sister). Shout out to her parents!

Actually, on that note, her parents really stood out to me when I met them. They always made me feel respected and like I belonged. When I first started teaching those camps, it was overwhelming for me because if you know me, you know I am not good with kids or loud noises or chaos! Also because I only did that part time on the weekends here and there. Thankfully, I had great coaches on court with me but we each had our own court (and kids) to manage. Stoney’s parents always made me feel like I was doing something right, even when I was losing it! The coolest part about meeting them was seeing the belief they had in their daughters. I mean Stoney was only like 10 at the time and her sister was younger than that, and they already knew — they all did — that tennis was their life.

When I was in the second grade my bestie was the youngest of 3 children and everyone in her family was completely obsessed with playing tennis. It just became the thing to do afterschool and on weekends. Whenever there was a break from school our families would spend time on the tennis court, either at their second home in the Hamptons or at Saddlebrook resort near Tampa. We played team tennis together in the NY Metro region and we even competed against each other (she’d always win).
So I was 7 or 8 years old when all of my free time was training after school, first at McCarren Park in Williamsburg, then Prospect Park tennis center, MatchPoint in Coney Island, JMTA on Randall’s Island, then Cary Leeds in the BX. Whenever my sister, Wiyot, and I went to see my grandparents in Maryland, we would train at JTCC in College Park. I met Frances Tiafoe when I was 9 and he told me that if he had a child he would name her Stoney. Tennis is everything to me, it’s so much fun, I meet new people, it’s competitive, I just love it.
Around the time I met Marnie, I was always nagging my parents about attending a tennis academy in Florida but the cost was outrageous so we looked at Spain. Rafa’s academy is priced like the academies in the States but in Barcelona was affordable, (almost half the price to attend the academy where I train now). I miss the pizza back home, but I’m getting used to the food here.

I remember her dad asking about academies around the country and always wanting more information around that. Just totally committed and willing to believe in his daughters at all costs. Stoney and her family now live in Barcelona and that’s bittersweet for me because I don’t get to see her but thanks to social media, I’m able to follow her journey. Surprisingly enough, with the time and distance apart, we’ve actually gotten closer. We don’t talk every day but I know that if I reach out, she will be there and I hope she knows to expect the same from me.

I think it takes tremendous guts to change cities and deal with all that goes with that. Making new friends, changing schools, all the things. But for some reason, I know this decision just felt right for them and I’m so proud and impressed by the whole family for literally picking up their life and chasing their dreams.

When my parents realized the cost to train and live here was so much less expensive than training and living in NY, it was a no brainer. I definitely made the right choice, not only for the cost but for the lifestyle, people are so chill and the international scene is awesome! In a year or so, I’ll get to travel to tournaments in Northern Africa and I can’t wait for that!

I feel like we don’t dream big enough sometimes but that’s certainly not the case with Stoney.

Right now my goal is to reach the 10K hour mark, you know, that milestone experts say anyone needs to reach to be completely competent in their craft. If I have an opportunity to compete in ITF tournaments over the next few years that would be great. I’d love to play the Orange Bowl this year, assuming it happens. I’m also looking for a traveling coach. How about you and me coach Marnie? Wink, wink.
Thanks for asking me to do this. I’ve always looked up to you and I admired your accomplishments in sport and in life. Meeting your grandma, Yola, is on my bucket list for sure!

Brb - I’m sobbing at this point. You know, I didn’t teach Stoney anything. Sure, I went over some concepts with her and shared the court with her a couple of times but never in a million years did I think that I would ever connect with someone like that. It honestly feels like we were meant to meet each other for some reason. I know that whatever she sets her mind to, she will achieve it. It’s not really a matter of if but when it’s going to happen.

If you play tennis, then you probably know that it’s a freaking workout. I mean, I try to do the bare minimum and I still burn like 700 calories when I play. For players that want to go pro or play in college, they need to train literally all the time, on and off the court. Some would even argue that off the court is more important.

Training begins at 9am and it’s either drills or hitting controls with another player for two hours, then fitness for an hour and a half. Lunch is from 1pm until 2:15 and the afternoon is more tennis and fitness until 4:45pm.
There’s a huge focus on fitness but at the academy where I train there isn’t enough emphasis on nutrition unfortunately. My dad is the nutrition guru so all my meals are prepared by him, except lunch, which I have at the academy. In terms of fitness, the Spanish take fitness very seriously. Half of the training day is doing fitness in the form of holdings, core work, balance, and strength training. The secret of Spanish tennis is really in the fitness because it’s their belief that the stronger tennis player is the one who has more endurance and balance than their opponent.
I love playing on the hard court because it’s fast but I gotta admit I enjoy playing on clay also.

TBH I’m tired just reading her schedule.

#TeamWilson has been amazing for me! I am still in shock when last fall I was invited to visit the Wilson HQ in Chicago, touring the facility where they manufacture all of the rackets of my idols. Wilson makes amazing products and they’re always reinventing themselves. They’ve been really good to me, I hope they continue to enjoy having me as their social media influencer in the years to come.

So remember how I said that tennis and sports in general are so powerful and can connect people? Welllllll…. Stoney is actually a Social Media Influencer for Wilson and my dear college friend (from Spain of all places) is also one. They met last year at a conference thing that Wilson hosted and they sent me this picture. It was so cool to feel like I was there with them and that we are connected through tennis.