Claudia Li recently shared her journey from a passionate young tennis player to participating in the USTA Foundation Pro-Am Tournament, a reflection of her enduring love for the sport. As a child, she dedicated herself to tennis, writing on her closet door, "I will play in the US Open one day," while training hard and traveling to compete across the country. Despite suffering a serious shoulder injury that ended her competitive career, her love for tennis remained strong.
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Earlier this month, Rolex invited Li to return to the court for the USTA Foundation Pro-Am. The foundation aims to provide young people from under-resourced communities with access to tennis, education, and mentorship, a mission Li strongly supports based on her own experiences. Participating in the tournament allowed her to reconnect with her passion for making an impact.
When Li graduated from college, her family gifted her a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, symbolizing a new chapter in her life. She views the brand as embodying timelessness and excellence, paralleling her own dreams, which have remained consistent throughout different phases of her life.
Excited to play in the tournament, Li envisioned a look inspired by the early 2000s Nike styles, particularly those worn by Maria Sharapova. She collaborated with designer Kristin Mallison to create a drop-waist, fringed dress and matching jacket, using vintage Nike skirts. A personal touch was added to her outfit by incorporating a small detail representing her pet pig, Stella.
Li's experience has reminded her that while pursuing big dreams can be daunting, reaching them often feels like a seamless transition back to the passions that defined her youth. She concluded her reflection with a nod to her past promise to her coach, Igor, about earning a dog if she ever played at the US Open, playfully noting that it might be time for him to fulfill that bet.