Deerfield’s Casati with big tennis background

Updated: October 12, 2011 8:24PM

Balance.

Many young athletes struggle to find it with their parents. Especially if that parent is a coach or a former professional player.

But that is not the case for Deerfield’s Alexis Casati.

Casati grew up in a tennis household. Her mom, the former Michelle Torres, played professionally. Her dad Stephen attended Northwestern and played briefly on the tour before becoming a tennis coach.

But Casati, a junior who started playing when she was 6 years old, has learned how to separate tennis from her home life.

“I have the best of both worlds,” Casati said. “I have great parents who know what is best for me at home. And when we are at meets, they do a great job of watching. They never try to coach me during a meet.”

Michelle and Stephen Casati have made sure they are not helicopter parents.

“We do talk about tennis a lot,” Michelle said. “But not when she is playing. She has learned to trust her coaches and play the matches as she needs to.”

“I am really open to what [my parents] say to me,” Casati said. “They were both great players and know a lot about the game.”

The Casati family has traveled the country to watch tennis. Along with Alexis, the Casatis have two other children: Christopher, 13, and Emily, 11.

“This has been a great opportunity for our family,” Michelle said. “It’s great to be together as a family. You can’t get those years back.”

Casati agrees with her mom.

“I love having my family with me when I play,” she said. “I also love watching my brother and sister play. We have had great family vacations.”

Right now, the only travel plans in the Casasti future are to go to Mount Prospect later this month for the state finals.

Alexis, who finished in the top 12 last year, will be looking to claim the same prize that her mom won as a freshman from New Trier in 1981.

“I am just looking to play better, in practice and in meets,” said Casati, who won the Central Suburban North singles title last weekend and will compete in Saturday’s Stevenson Sectional.

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