With the tennis season now underway, three seniors will be taking the court for their final farewell at George Mason University. One senior in particular, Esu Erdenebat took a road much less traveled.
Erdenebat started playing tennis when she was just seven years old in Mongolia. Tennis wasn't a sport Erdenebat sought out, rather, after playing in her physical education class her P.E. teacher asked if she would like to pursue tennis and practice with her going forward.
When Erdenebat said “yes” she gave tennis in Mongolia a significant boost in the right direction.
In Mongolia, tennis is an infant sport still developing players and the overall desire to play. Currently there are still no standardized courts in the country, hard courts are made of cement and clay courts are composed of fine sand.
The lack of top-notch facilities makes it difficult for Mongolia to attract the country's best athletes and in turn makes competing against other countries more difficult.
“Technically because tennis is still a developing sport, I'm one of the top players in Mongolia,” Erdenebat said. “I think [we are] doing really well, all things considered.”
In 2005, at the age of 12, Erdenebat and her mother left for America, settling in Fairfax, Va. Erdenebat's mother decided to pursue job opportunities in America while the rest of Erdenebat's family remained in Mongolia.
Although Erdenebat did not know any English, she felt fine with the move. Going back to Mongolia as many winter and summer breaks as she could, allowed her to stay close with her family and friends who had stayed behind.
Erdenebat also consistently returns to participate in the Mongolia National Open tournament, where she connects with other tennis players who left Mongolia to live abroad.
“A friend I grew up and played tennis with since I was seven currently plays for the University of Illinois-Chicago,” Erdenebat said. “Another Mongolian girl who participates in the open, lives in London and when we all compete, we usually finish first, second or third.”
Erdenebat and her friend from Chicago traveled together to Korea to compete in the Asian Olympics and in doubles, the pair knocked off Nepal in the first round. The pair went on to defeat the Philippines in the first round of the most recent University Games this past summer as well.
“There were participants from every single country at the University Games and I ended up making friends with the American team who all play at UCLA,” Erdenebat said. “I met a lot of really talented athletes there and it was a lot of fun.”
Something important to consider, specifically pertaining to the Asian Olympics, is that veritable professionals who play year round on the professional tour are also competing. In singles play, Erdenebat faced off against the current 82nd ranked tennis player in the world, Yaroslava Shvedova. Although Erdenebat lost to Shvedova, just the experience she gained at the Asian Olympics represents progress that will further the country's awareness and passion for tennis going forward.
Erdenebat can be considered a pioneer in a sense, setting the bar high for young tennis players learning about the game in her native land.
In addition to increased domestic interest, foreign coaches from Korea, China and Japan have started taking notice of Mongolia's growth. Construction companies also see an opportunity with tennis and have started to build tennis courts, only furthering the intrigue that the sport has already captured.
Erdenebat did not return to her homeland as she pursued potential internships here in America. Erdenebat's major is community health with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy. Upon graduation, she plans on taking a year to travel throughout Europe, before starting physical therapy school.
“I'm actually planning on taking a trip to Europe over the summer with one of the tennis players from UCLA.” Erdenebat said.
Erdenebat does not plan on pursuing a professional career in tennis, but she does want to coach in addition to attending physical therapy school. With this being her final season of competitive tennis, Erdenebat is hoping to win as many matches as possible while playing the best tennis of her career.
With heightened focus on finishing her career strong, Erdenebat is in prime position to have her last season also be her best season. However regardless of the final results, Erdenebat can be proud of her career and how she has inspired an entire country to follow in her revolutionary foot-steps.
