HighFIVE: Olivia Ivankoe
The following HighFIVE profile appears in the 2018 Fall/Winter issue of Colorado Tennis newspaper.
Finishing her first bike race at just 4 years-old, it’s not a surprise that Olivia, now 14, is establishing herself as a dedicated athlete. And it’s no surprise that with all the sports available, she has picked tennis as her primary focus.
Hitting the courts at age 8 at Vail Valley Racquet club, the 8th grader at Mountain Ridge in Highlands Ranch describes herself as, “very competitive,” and the fit with tennis strongly aligned with her “independent and self-driven nature.”
Her mom and constant supporter, Nancy, agrees.
“Olivia has always been strong-willed and adept at every sport,” adding that she encouraged tennis because it’s a lifelong sport with unlimited opportunity for growth. Nancy adds that “tennis has a great culture.”
Describing her family as unconditionally supportive, Olivia said she never feels any pressure to win, or senses disappointment from anyone if the result doesn’t go her way. In fact, she said her favorite tournament so far, a Level 6 (Championship) in Louisville, was one she didn’t win.
“I didn’t win or even get the finals,” she said, “but I saw myself with an elevated level of play and knew I could compete.”
That positive attitude propelled Olivia to play 20 Challenger events in Colorado last year — a total of 49 matches — more than any other Challenger level player in Colorado. Preferring to hit swinging volleys, inside out groundstrokes and come to net frequently, Olivia’s nature is to finish points with aggressive play.
“I admire the way Federer plays,” she explains of her analytical approach and aggressive style.
Olivia spends time in the gym for strength training and jumps rope to get rid of pregame jitters. “I’m not really into talking before games,” she jokes. She said if she has any advice for less experienced players it would be to “just focus on one ball at time – don’t get ahead of yourself.”
She plays at Inverness and will be looking to play for Mountain Vista High School. Ultimately, Olivia says she’d like to play collegiately at the Division I or II level. Olivia’s analytical style plays well off the court as well, where she likes to design and build things. Olivia also loves to ski, travel and enjoy time with her friends. She knows her biggest challenge in the next few years is going to be balancing the various aspects of her life. “I have to prioritize school, tennis, and a social life,” she said, “but’s that a good problem!”
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