Vanessa Webb Reflects On Duke Career

By Adam Miller

DURHAM, N.C. - Former women's tennis great and 2011 Duke Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Vanessa Webb is often recognized as the best women's tennis player to ever compete at Duke. Webb was the 1998 NCAA women's singles champion, the first in program history. Named the ITA Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999, Webb was an All-America and an All-ACC selection all four years at Duke (1996-99). She ranks first in school history with 161 wins and owns the school record with a .866 career winning percentage.

Webb has kept busy since her time at Duke, earning her MBA in 2005 from the renowned Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She has used her education and playing experience to follow a career in business, but still remains heavily involved with tennis.

"I've been working for a management and consulting firm in Boston, and then I spent a year-and-a half helping them open an office in India," said Webb. "I also sit on the Board of Directors for the WTA Tour. That's my way of staying involved in tennis."

Webb has also found time in between to start a family of her own. "I got married this year and had a baby who is now six months old," she said.

The four-time All-America still enjoys reminiscing about her playing days. Her fondest memories come from arguably the most successful seasons that the Duke women's tennis program ever had, but she doesn't have just one memory in particular that stands above the many.

"One was getting to the finals of the [NCAA] team competition in 1998, and then the other was winning the NCAA's [singles championship]," commented Webb. "The reason the team was so neat was because it was not the strongest team, but in terms of our teamwork and how well we all got along, it was definitely our best year and our most fun year, and it showed up in the results."

There is no way any critic could short-change her NCAA singles title from the 1998 season. Her journey and preparation on the way to the achievement could have made a great montage, similar to that of one of the 'Rocky' films.

"The NCAA final was very special because it was a changeable reward for a lot of hard work," mentioned Webb. "I put a lot of extra work in that year. I had done a fitness program outside of what I was doing within the team. I worked with sport psychologist, so I put a lot of work into my tennis and it was sort of a neat reward for all of that hard work. You don't get tangible results like that for everything you do in life so it's pretty neat to actually have something to show for it. It's a great memory."

Today, her NCAA singles title has a little bit of a different meaning than what it might have meant 13 years ago.

"It brings back great memories, but I think any time you can do something well it's always a confidence builder because you've tasted success and you can see what needs to be put in, in order to be successful," said Webb. "I think that carries toward anything you do in life."

The great success in her playing days wasn't just limited to her experiences as a tennis player, but also benefitted Webb moving forward into her professional career as a businesswoman.

"Even in the business world, you get a lot of respect for it because people understand that in order to be successful it takes some talent, but also, you need to put the work in," she stated. "It probably gave me more respect with the folks I work with, particularly in the initial phase than I would have otherwise."

Where did this tennis star get her drive? Who gave her the motivation to be so great? The answer: herself.

"My grandfather always tells a story that when I was nine, he asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I told him I wanted to be the best that I could be in anything I did," said Webb. "That's been my attitude - if you win, you win and if you lose, you lose."

Head coach of the Duke women's tennis team Jamie Ashworth was instrumental in helping Webb succeed on the court. She referred to Ashworth's "laid-back" personality as the device he used to support Vanessa at crucial times during her playing career.

"I remember being on the court during the changeover in the later stages of my match in the finals at the NCAA's the year I won, and I remember turning to him and saying, 'Okay, I think I need to do these five things,' and he said, 'Why don't you slow down, relax and breathe.' He was a good counter-balance to me in that respect."

Webb may not have her own specific definition as to what her Hall of Fame induction means to her, but she is extremely honored.

"I don't even know if I can put it into words," said Webb, joyfully. "It means a lot and I think that's probably an understatement. I think it probably means that I will not be forgotten. That's pretty neat. Not many people get that. It's a very elite and distinguished group, and it's very neat to be a part of it."

What will be going through her mind on that special evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium? She's not entirely sure, but she is certain of one thing she looks forward to during the ceremony, and that is sharing the ceremony with former Duke women's golf player, and also a 2011 Duke Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Jenny Chuasiriporn.

"It's a very neat group to be inducted with and I would say particularly to be inducted with Jenny Chuasiriporn, who was my roommate at Duke and was also one of my closest friends. Ten and eleven years later to be inducted together is very neat, and to be able to share that with someone who will be a lifelong friend is very special. I don't know how I'll be feeling but I think that's probably the part I look forward to most."

Arguably the best women's tennis player ever to play at Duke, Webb isn't sure how to define her own legacy.

"I don't know. I think that's for other people to judge," said Webb. "What was really important to me was trying to be the best student-athlete that I could be, and I mean that very genuinely. I believe that we all are capable of both excelling inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to set an example for others. I wanted to show that it could be done. That was part of the reasons why I went to Duke."

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Vanessa Webb Reflects On Duke Career

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