Goal of state championship keeps Ritter in the game

Alex Ritter, First Colonial High School's budding tennis star, offers an unexpected answer when asked about her goals in the sport.

"Right now, I'm kind of over it," the sophomore said. "So my goal is to lose the racket after high school, and I never want to see it again."

But when asked about the potential of winning a state title, her eyes light up and it becomes clear she's not quite burned out on the sport.

"That would be so amazing," she said.

Winning a state title is no pipe dream for Ritter. She went 16-1 last season, the lone loss coming in the Group AAA state semifinals to Mills Godwin's Katie Blow, then a senior and the eventual state champion.

This season, Ritter is undefeated and the clear favorite to repeat as the Eastern Region champion.

Boys and girls region singles begin today at Huntington Park in Newport News. Cox's Ian Fraser, a senior, is the defending boys singles champion.

Ritter lost only six games in five matches in taking the Beach District crown.

"She's good enough to win this year," First Colonial coach Diane Deaton said. "Last year, she was harder on herself than she is this year. She's getting more mature."

Ritter admits she's a perfectionist. So Deaton has worked with her on relaxing more, and letting go of lost points.

The work has paid off, in large part because of Ritter's attitude about high school sports.

Many state contenders agonize over matches. But for Ritter, high school season is a release from the rigors of her "regular" season.

"With my regular tennis, it felt more like a job," she said.... "Here, it's more relaxing with my practices, which makes it more enjoyable and makes me want to practice more, which helps when it comes to our matches."

Ritter started playing tennis around age 5. She began taking lessons in the second grade. By the sixth grade, she was spending hours of free time each day practicing and entering weekend tournaments.

"I'm in a hotel more than I am at home in the summer," said Ritter, who turned 16 earlier this month.

Add the fact that Ritter is a dedicated student - she's one of a select few allowed to take chemistry and advanced placement biology at the same time - and something had to give when high school tennis season arrived.

So Ritter, a First Colonial captain, chose to focus on her team and reduced her personal practice sessions.

"It was time for her to break away from what she had been doing," said Ritter's mother, Chris. "The high school season definitely relaxes her. It makes her like tennis again."

There is one problem with high school tennis, Because Ritter is rarely challenged for most of the season, she doesn't get the chance to work on different aspects of her game against other elite players.

"It's hard with districts and regionals and the regular season because it's like taking two months off," Ritter said. "Yes, I'm playing 10 hours a week, but it's not the intensity level I'm used to. So when I get to states it hits, 'I need to step up my game now.' "

Deaton expects that. The coach is so confident that she smiles when Ritter suggests she's burned out on tennis.

"She never plays a point and says, 'I don't care, I don't like this game anymore.' Once she strikes that ball, she gives you everything she's got."

Ritter insists her future goals include attending the University of Virginia and concentrating on a career in math or science. Tennis is not part of the long-term plan.

But then the topic of a state title comes up again. And her eyes light up again, and that's clearly part of the short-term plan.

"That means a lot," she said. "Going into this season, I was like 'Oh my God, more practices.' But I've gotten away from my regular practices. I'm doing all the team stuff. And I am getting back into it."