ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 31, 1996 TAG: 9607310029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
TENNIS PLAYER JANE CHI is seeded sixth in this week's USTA Women's Challenge of Roanoke.
Jane Chi is a two-time All-American from UCLA who gave up her final year of college eligibility to follow a dream of becoming a player on the big-time women's tennis circuit.
To follow her dream, the Meridian, Idaho, native is seeded sixth in the United States Tennis Association Women's Challenge of Roanoke this week at Hunting Hills Country Club.
Chi has a chance to win as much as $4,000 in prize money for finishing first with a minimum of $200 if she's eliminated in the first round.
There is more on the line for Chi, who has played in women's tournaments over the past year that award as much as $50,000 in prize money. The sponsors of the Roanoke challenge will award $25,000.
Chi makes her own travel arrangements, flying between tournaments and rooming with families willing to house players so they don't have to spend their prize money on hotels. Some players share a car ride, others stay in hotels. Chi says few have agents and must make their own schedules and arrangements. It's all in the hope of making the big-time, big-money tour.
``I thought the time was right [to turn pro],'' said Chi, who made the NCAA semifinal round of singles as a junior in 1995. ``I felt I had done everything I could in the NCAA except winning it, which is pretty tough.''
So Chi gave up completing a degree in political science for the moment, though she says she hopes to return and complete her education with a change in majors to business economics.
``I don't think [the tour] is that tough. The key is to have an open mind about things and don't let anything affect you,'' said Chi.
This fall, Chi will play team tennis nearer to her Idaho home before heading back on the tour, hoping to step up permanently in prize money class next year.
``Everyone wants to play on the big tour and the bigger events,'' said the 22-year-old Chi. ``If I'm still playing in the $25-50,000 tournaments two years from now, I'll just pack it in and go back to school.
``If I have peaked out and not made any more jumps, I'll be glad I did it. But it will be time to get on with my life.''
Chi says her parents, Steven and Ling Chi, have been supportive even though they have not seen her play in the past four years.
Chi says economically this is a slight losing effort for her because prize money doesn't quite cover expenses. ``My parents help me out. I've been staying with people when housing is furnished. It's nice of people to let complete strangers come into their homes and that's what makes tournaments like this one.
``People like this have an impact on women's tennis. They help girls who wouldn't be able to come [play in a tournament like this] without housing.''
Bunny Williams, a USTA director, says the USTA tour is about preparing young players for the women's grand circuit.
``This is very comparable to minor-league baseball in that first you prove yourself here,'' said Williams. ``This is a stepping stone toward the big tournament.''
The honor roll for the last 15 years of the USTA circuit includes some big names on the grand-slam circuit of women's tennis. Gigi Fernandez of Puerto Rico, who is a member of the world's No. 1 ranked doubles team, played on the USTA circuit in 1983.
Other USTA graduates include Iva Majoli, ranked fourth in singles; Chanda Rubin, seventh; Brenda Schultz, 12th; Amy Frazier, 23rd; and Natalia Zvereva, 25th.
Whether she plays the grand-slam circuit or not, Chi has gained some important things from her experience.
``I've made some good friends,'' Chi said. ``I'm getting to know some girls I played against in college that I didn't have time to know. It's competitive tennis, but only until we're about 30. The important thing is that friendships last forever.''
LENGTH: Medium: 75 linesby CNB