It was an unbearably humid September night, and I was sitting in the "family" box in a lower corner of Arthur Ashe Stadium, watching my niece throw a scare into Venus Williams. It was the third round of last year's U. Open, and Meghann Shaughnessy was playing on national television in front of 20, spectators, leading the Wimbledon champ, , and serving for the first set. Meghann ultimately lost the thus far biggest match of her career, , , but she finished the year ranked 38th in the world, playing the best tennis of her life.
It's a little strange to have a professional athlete in the family, especially when you've been writing about sports since the days of typewriters and Western Union transmission. Yet, while she may never reach the quarters of a major or crack the Top 10, watching her grow into this life has given her wisecracking uncle new perspective on the sacrifice and commitment made by so many professional athletes.
Oh, and she's already got one more tour victory than baby doll Anna Kournikova. Meghann, who has never had a beer in her 21 years, won the Heineken Open in Shanghai in October. Like golfers, skaters, gymnasts and swimmers, tennis players practice an individual sport that most of us played at one time or another. The majority of those who reach professional status immerse themselves in their game-too often at the expense of almost everything else.
To a degree, Meghann fits that stereotype. She never finished high school, never dated and couldn't be located overseas five years ago when her dad underwent heart surgery. But there's no Jim Pierce or Damir Dokic, no nutty parent in this story.
Meghann's drive to be No. Her dad, Bill Shaughnessy, grew up playing Wiffle ball with Peter Gammons and was the starting rightfielder for the Groton High varsity when he was in the seventh grade.
