Unionville’s Grace Li is the 2022 Girls Tennis Player of the Daily Local News – PA Prep Live

Grace Li of Unionville. (PETE BANNAN – DAILY LOCAL NEWS)

East Marlborough >> Unionville High School junior Grace Li, the Daily Local News Girls Tennis Player of the Year, saved her best performance this fall for the PIAA 3A singles championship.
In that match, Li got better as the tournament went on and defeated Council Rock South junior Dasha Chichkina 6-4, 6-2 to win her first PIAA state singles title. Li finished the fall high school season with an undefeated record in singles, and won all of her matches in straight sets at the PIAA tournament.
My best match of the season was the final against Dasha, said Li. I have played him so many times during the season (including the District 1 3A finals) and he played so well in the state championship finals. It was difficult because he gets to every ball, so I had to be really patient but still play my aggressive style.
Li, also a 2021 girls tennis player of the year, finished second in the PIAA tournament last year, losing in the championship final.
“After finishing second last year, I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum and finally winning a state title this year made all the hard work feel worth it,” Li said. When I won the second set, it was a monumental moment and I was so happy and relieved.
Unlike in 2021, Li entered states as the No. 1 seed.
It’s tough being the No. 1 seed, Unionville head coach Janet Johnston said. There’s a lot of pressure…most of it, a lot of people put on themselves. Teams can feel it. Individuals can feel it.
It was obvious that Grace felt that pressure early on (in the championship final), but she responded very quickly and rose to the occasion. It was really fun to watch the development during districts and states as he calmed down and found his game. You could feel it from outside the field.
Li said: At the beginning (of the final) I struggled a bit. Being the first seed, there was a lot of pressure because I was expected to win. I think a big part was (Chichkinas) going 0-2 on the break service game to level the score at 1-2. If I lost that game, it would have been much harder to come back.
Johnston said, Grace is a very determined player. His base game is one of the strongest aspects of his game, but I would also include his delivery as a weapon. When his first serve is on, he sets the tone of the match very quickly. In difficult situations, he is very good at assessing his opponents and finding ways to counter their strengths.
Johnston also admires Lis’s even-tempered personality.

Grace Li of Unionville. (PETE BANNAN – DAILY LOCAL NEWS)

Grace is realistic about things and never goes too high or too low. He can be quiet but often jumps into a conversation, has something really funny to say and is a really good teammate…well respected and clearly liked.
Led by Li, Unionville advanced to the finals of the PIAA 3A team championship.
Grace brings out the best in her teammates, said Johnston. He works hard on his game and that energy and effort rubs off on the team. It’s like the spark that lights the fire when you have a player who can bring his teammates along and inspire them to improve their game.
I also know it’s a two-way street. Grace enjoys the team’s success as much, if not more, than her own. That is the definition of a good teammate. I am sure he will play tennis in college and I hope his experience here at Unionville serves him well at the next level.
Li started playing tennis at the age of 6 at his family club, Penn Oaks Country Club. Around the age of 11, Li began training at the High Performance Tennis Academy in Bala Cynwyd, where he came under the tutelage of Dylan Comerford, one of the club’s owners and managers.
“Dylan has taught me so much about my game, including tactics, mentalities and techniques,” Li said. Another person who has helped me a lot is my brother Victor who has been my batting partner since I was little and has really helped my game dramatically.
Li has also made his presence felt on the junior tennis circuit, and is ranked No. 2 in his age group, No. 13 in the Mid-Atlantic and No. 57 nationally by tennis recruiting.net.
Lis’ favorite tournament tennis experience outside of playing Unionville came last summer at the Billie Jean King Hardcourt Championships in San Diego, California. Li won the 256-player singles event, which included many players under the age of 16 from around the United States. the first three rounds to advance to the field of 32 before being eliminated.
It was an incredible experience, said Li. Flying across the country in a completely different environment was very exciting. I played really well in that tournament and got to meet a lot of my friends.
Li is a left-handed player and enjoys watching many of the WTA Tour’s professional Left-Handers, such as two-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber.
I feel like my style of play is pretty similar to (Kerbers),” said Li. I also like (former French Open champion) Iga Swiatek, who has such a good game that I love to watch.

Fun facts Grace Li

Favorite athlete: Novak Djokovic.

Favorite place to visit: Paris, France.

Favorite meal before the match: Protein bowl and smoothie.

The person I admire the most: My brother Victor.