Nothing beats a good reputation. The tennis world is full of great people, but a select few stand out for their service, reliability, and willingness to go the extra mile to grow and develop those in the game.

Kathy Rinaldi first appeared on the scene more than 40 years ago when she became the youngest player to win a Wimbledon match at age 14. What followed was a successful playing career, and the decision to dive right into player development.

She recently joined the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast to discuss why that second vocation was so fulfilling, and why the current captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team is having the time of her life.

Rinaldi’s ascent came fast, as the youngest child of four quickly became a pro tennis force in her early teenage years. She was playing pro events before she reached high school, and would eventually reach the Top 10 of the singles rankings.

“When I was 14 I got to the quarterfinals of the French [Open],” she said. “I mean you just don’t think about those things when you’re young. You’re just thinking about what’s in front of you and the competition.”

She appreciates those moments a lot more now, and is forever grateful for having such a strong support team to lean on during those formative years,

“I had an incredible relationship with my parents that kept me grounded, but they were also so welcoming on tour.”

After some notable highs and a few lows, Rinaldi decided to put down her racquet for good in 1997. Retiring athletes are often weary of the unknown that follows, but this young woman decided that player development was the perfect new path to take. She has been one of the most prominent and respected voices in the USTA for the past 15 years, working hard to shape the future stars of a sport she once excelled in.

“We have such an incredible team and I’m still learning so much from all of our coaches and each other.” Rinaldi said, reflecting on her tenure. “When you can make an impact on somebody, not just in their tennis, but their life, I think there’s nothing more rewarding than that, at least for me.”

Tennis Channel Inside In – Kathy Rinaldi

In 2016, Rinaldi’s hard work was rewarded with a golden opportunity. She was selected to be the captain of the U.S. Fed Cup team, leading one of the premier nations in the premier international tennis tournament. In 2017, her first year, the American women brought home the trophy, and the past five seasons have been rewarding on and off the court for the players participating in it.

That goes for the captain, too.

“There’s no doubt about it I’m getting more out of this than I can give them,” she said. “That’s for sure.”

The event has since been renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in honor of one of the game’s greatest pioneers, but the team aspect is one that remains constant. Athletes in individual sports don’t get the chance to be on a team very often, and Rinaldi explains how much that opportunity is appreciated.

“I felt like you could really get to know each other on a different level,” she said in regards to both her playing and coaching runs with the U.S. team. “When they look back on their careers, I hope that they’ll say, ‘Wow that was a real special week. We had a lot of fun and we competed hard, and we worked hard.'”

Rinaldi is what one might call a ‘tennis lifer.’ This is the arena she was put on this Earth to make a difference in, and she is certainly fulfilling all the expectations that were bestowed upon that 14-year old girl playing in the main draw at Roland Garros. Other topics discussed in this podcast include her experiences playing some legends (“To be honest, I didn’t really enjoy playing Chrissie. She didn’t give me too much!”), her celebratory dance moves, and if she sees an end date for her involvement in the player development.

If you come away with one thing from this episode of Tennis Channel Inside-In, it’s that the U.S. is in good hands with Rinaldi leading the way.