News - National
One-armed teen tears up tennis court
Posted: Aug 2, 2010 7:44 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Updated: Aug 2, 2010 7:46 AM
Gene Hill was born without a right arm, but when it comes to the tennis court, don't feel sorry for him....Feel sorry for his opponent.
The 17-year-old from North Haledon, New Jersey, lost only two sets this past season as a junior.
"From the first time I was asked to serve, that's just naturally what my body did," he says. "I can't really explain it-it's just a motion I kind of naturally picked up."
Coach Eric Shmerlis says he was impressed the first time he saw Gene play. "What I noticed immediately was that the sound of the ball that comes off of his racket when he turns and lets the ball go-you can immediately see that the kid is talented," he says.
As for people staring at him because of his arm, "I'm not very self-conscious about it...I've never really been."
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