Jagger Leach has athletic pedigree, but wants to forge own path
Jagger Leach’s parents, Lindsay Davenport and Jon Leach, and uncle Rick Leach were tennis pros, and 14-year-old Jagger aspires to do the same one day. He knows he has a lot of hard work ahead of him.
When your mother was a year-ending No. 1 singles tennis player in the world for four years and your uncle was ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles, those are mighty huge sneakers to fill.
Jagger Leach, son of
Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport with three Grand Slams on her résumé, and nephew of Rick Leach, part of five Grand Slam champions doubles teams, recently went through a 7-inch growth spurt, so at 6-2, the lanky 14-year-old may be the teen to do it.
Until Friday, the 17thseeded Leach had lived up to his pedigree, however he was unable to solve ninth-seeded Roben Gavani, a smooth-stroking, left-hander from Bulgaria, in a heart-breaking 4-6, 6-2 (16-14) loss on the hard courts at Crandon Park Tennis Center in the Junior Orange Bowl Championships 14-andunders.
“I’m still trying to develop my game into a moreaggressive baseliner who comes forward to finish points,’’ said Leach, who lost in the Round of 16 at the recent Eddie Herr championships to eventual champion Max Exsted, the top seed from Miramar,
who cruised into the final 16 on Friday. “I’ve got a lot of work to do in the next couple of years.”
Davenport and husband Jon Leach, an All-American at USC who had a brief pro doubles career (ranked 229 in 1996), certainly know the pitfalls their son will face, but their loving guidance and experience will no doubt escort him onto the right path.
“We both had really good careers,’’ said Davenport of her and Jon’s huge collection of gold balls for winning several USTA National tournaments. “It’s been a lot for him, but he loves it, plays a lot, he’s a great kid. He tries super hard, a good student. Whatever he wants to do we will try to support. We’ll see where it takes him.”
This week, Davenport was just another tennis parent clapping for both players. She said that she was far more nervous serving on match point than watching Jagger play.
“He acts well, tries hard,’’ she said. “I get a little more stressed watching my daughter’s sports. You always get a little nervous, but it’s OK.”
Another tennis Hall Famer and former No. 1, Lleyton Hewitt was rooting on his 13-year-old son Cruz, who lost his secondround match on Thursday, but remains in the back draw.
The hard-serving
Leach, who was ranked No. 1 in California in his age group before the pandemic hit, is coming off a tough patch. He had to undergo two left leg surgeries to repair a femur. The strict lockdown mandates in California led the family, including three younger daughters, to move from Laguna Beach to Sarasota where the children are pursuing their athletic interests at the IMG Academy.
The growth spurt also has affected his mobility as he adjusts to his new size. He’s probably not done yet, as his mother is 6-2, father is 6-4 and grandfather 6-8.
“I love tennis and feel like I’m lucky to have a passion for it because it’s easier to get up in the morning and helps keep
‘‘
I’M STILL TRYING TO DEVELOP MY GAME INTO A MORE-AGGRESSIVE BASELINER WHO COMES FORWARD TO FINISH POINTS. I’VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
Jagger Leach
me motivated,’’ Jagger said. “Mom gives me a lot of great advice on and off the court, and helps me with the struggles, too, because she’s been there before.
“Dad helps me more on the court. … because he played all those years and could tell me what he did wrong.”
Many consider Davenport the greatest pure ball-striker in the sport. Jon Leach says his son has inherited that skill, but not from him.
“I’m diluting Lindsay’s gene pool,’’ joked Jon Leach. “He’s really tall now so he’s got to get thick, get strong, so you can play with your legs underneath you. He has that ability, the eye-hand coordination.’’
Jagger is not thinking college and plans to play pros.
“My goal is to improve my game and get physically to a point at 18 or 19 that I can start playing at a higher level,’’ he said. “I can only control the input I put in.”
The level-headed youngster has no intention of shouldering the outside expectations of his championship lineage.
“I try not to put too much pressure on myself and focus on the long run, improving my game and seeing where it takes me,’’ Jagger said. “I’m working as hard as I can on and off the court, not as much to follow in their footsteps I guess, but to try to create my own path.”
The 17th seed Robert McAdoo IV, grandson of NBA great Bob McAdoo, lost 6-3, 6-3 to fifth-seeded Jordan Lee of Orlando in the third round of the Boys’ 12s at Salvadore Park.
For more results, go to tennis@jrorangebowl.org.