Dublin Coffman’s Emma Zerbi Lands District Seed as a Freshman

Dublin — For the Zerbi family, tennis runs in the blood. Whether in post-match conversations, watching it on TV, or practicing on the court, it’s rare to find a day when tennis isn’t part of life in their home.

Coffman freshman Emma Zerbi discovered tennis by watching her older sister, quickly joining the family tradition. For Zerbi, the sport is more than just a game.

“I really love tennis. It’s just fun,” Zerbi said. “We’re a tennis family, so I’m really invested in it.”

Fast forward to today, Zerbi is gearing up for her first district tournament at Upper Arlington this week. What sets her apart from other players in the region is that she’s the only freshman to earn a singles seed.

Interestingly, Zerbi joins the company of fellow freshmen Lilly Abad and Meredith Scheiwer, a doubles team from St. Francis DeSales seeded in this week’s district tournament at Gahanna.

She will be in great company at Upper Arlington, joining some of Central Ohio’s top girls’ players, including Olentangy Berlin’s Soleil Cordell, Upper Arlington’s Alexa Roth, and Watkins Memorial’s Nora Greenan.

With a 13-5 record, Zerbi enters the tournament having gained valuable lessons from the season.

“I went to Sells [Dublin] for middle school, and the players in high school are just better,” Zerbi said. “I put pressure on myself, but I have to remember I’m playing someone older and more experienced. I learned a lot from the mental game and how to stay calm during matches.”

The transition from middle school to high school was made easier by the strong culture at Dublin Coffman, which Zerbi says played a key role in her adjustment. She was able to bond with teammates and receive support from both coaches and peers.

The biggest X-factor in a tournament is the ability to learn quickly and apply changes on the fly, something that Zerbi says she has learned with limited practice time during the season.

“When I’m not in season, I can do clinics and practices with coaches,” Zerbi explained. “During the season, we play 3-4 matches a week, so learning after matches is critical when you can’t practice very much.”

As she heads into Tuesday’s action at Upper Arlington, Zerbi isn’t aiming for the stars. She’s taking it one match at a time, eager to see how far she can go.

“I will try my best and see how far things go,” Zerbi said. “My sister and Dad have helped me with my confidence and navigating the tough times. I will go as far as I can this week.”

The Upper Arlington sectional tournament takes place on Tuesday and Saturday. As the 4-seed, Zerbi earned a first-round bye and will open play in the second round against the winner of Groveport Madison’s Marisa Marquis and Mount Vernon’s Nika Glorius.