Girls Night Out Before BNP Paribas Showdown

Some inspiring ladies got together before the match at the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King cup for a "Girls Night Out" to discuss staying confident and motivated in the competitive tennis world  to 100 top-ranked teenage girls and their families. Then they got to see their favorite stars, Venus Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Kim Clijsters, and Ana Ivanovic, play for free.

Hosted by Katrina Adams, former pro and tennis analyst for Tennis Chanel, the girls got to hear from current U.S. Fed Cup Captain and former player Mary Joe Fernandez; CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Stacey Allaster; former figure skater Nancy Kerrigan; COO of World Team Tennis and former player Ilana Kloss; Managing Director of Marketing, Member of the USTA Board of Directors and National Committees Roberta Feldman and Communications for USTA Eastern Michelle Blake Wilson.

The youths got reminded from Ilana Kloss- the importance of familial relationships and that one will learn more from losing than winning. Kloss said, "Losing is feedback not failure and it teaches you to believe in yourself."

Mary Joe Fernandez encouraged that staying disciplined in school should be followed by a health and active lifestyle to stay focused in the grown-up world of professional tennis.  She noted to, " Be as prepared as you can be."

While Stacey Allaster, coming from a business perspective, pointed out that one needs to be in control of personal destiny in an industry mainly controlled by men and to always love the sport you are a part of.

I think that this event was inspirational because women have always had to fight so hard to get respect and recognition in sports. Girls of all ages should not settle for anything but their best and utilize their talents how they see fit.