Olympics
Tracy’s ace: Balancing Academics and Tennis
Ghanaian tennis talent Tracy, 17, juggles her rising tennis career with a Biological Science degree at KNUST. With her father’s support and personal dedication, she manages an impressive balance between sports and academics, finishing her first year with an 88 CGPA.
Image Credit: Jeremiah Omoniyi
At just 17, Tracy has already made a name for herself in Ghana's Tennis, with a dozen years of dedication to the sport and a slew of medals to show for it.
But what's even more impressive is how she's managed to balance her passion for tennis with her studies in Biological Science at Kwame University Science and Technology, KNUST.
It's not really easy but I try my best, I try to study everyday, read at night, to catch up
Tracy
Father's Support
Tracy's love affair with tennis began when she was just five years old, courtesy of her father, who introduced her to the sport. "He plays too, and I used to follow him to watch," she recalls. "His coach suggested I try it out, and I never looked back."
Tennis, however, has been her constant companion. The last 12 years of her active dedication to the sports has witnessed both the financial and moral support of her father.
“It has been my dad pushing me because I've always wanted to stop,” she admits.
“I always got tired, and it seems like I was lazy but, in his ways, he kept pushing me. Sometimes he says he would stop me from playing when he knew I already loved the sports. In all, it hasn't been easy, especially navigating academics and sports together.”
She also added that her first gift was from her dad at age eight which was a racket.
“It was a racket and from my dad. It was when I was eight, playing in my first tournament.”
Juggling Gown and Sneakers
With a current ranking of 2000 in the Jumia rankings, Tracy is focused on improving her game while pursuing her degree. "I'll always prioritise both," she says.
Despite the challenges of juggling academics and sports, Tracy has excelled in both. She finished her first year with an impressive CGPA of 88 and is now gearing up for her second year. "I'm moving to my second year and in my first, I was around 88, which is over 100," she says.
Tracy's tennis journey has taken her to various countries, including South Africa, Morocco, and Tunisia, where she's met fellow athletes like Nigeria's Seun Ogunsaki. Her first medal came at age eight in Ghana, and she's been racking up wins ever since.
When asked about her plans after graduation, Tracy is clear: "I won't drop tennis. I'll play it, but maybe not as actively." Her passion for the sport is matched alongside her dedication to her studies.
No, I'm not dropping sports. But also, both are important and I'm also not leaving any for the other. Maybe if I fail in one and succeed in another, I'll come to a conclusion
Tracy
In her downtime, Tracy enjoys watching movies and listening to music – Nigerian music, in particular and Burnaboy is her favourite artist.
She looks up to world tennis stars like Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and the likes as models.
As she navigates the demands of university life and tennis, Tracy remains committed to her goals. "I'll keep pushing myself, both on and off the court," she says with determination.
Jeremiah Omoniyi is a developmental sports Journalist with over five years of experience writing about grassroots and international football and sporting events. Jeremiah’s forte in sports journalism are feature writing and interviews which he has done to a reasonable amount within his home country, Nigeria.