Penny Z / 2026
A young player, growing into her game.
A record of tennis, school, family, and the ordinary days that make progress possible.
Read her story
01 / Story
Most days are not milestones. They are practice, school, family, and time.
Penny is still at the beginning. Her weeks include practice, homeschool, travel, time with family, good sessions, and difficult ones. This site is simply a record of that process.
Her dad Neil, her coaches, and the people around her are helping her build sound habits while leaving room to be a kid. The results will come when they come. For now, there is the next lesson and the next ball.
02 / Journal
Notes from the court
Unstaged frames pulled directly from practice and tournament footage.
03 / Penny by Design
A structure for the week.
“Penny by Design” is the family’s name for the practical work of fitting tennis into a full childhood.
Homeschool creates flexibility, but the goal is balance: enough time to learn, train, recover, travel, and be together. The schedule changes. The principles do not—pay attention, take care of the body, listen to good coaching, and keep the game enjoyable.
A typical daySubject to change
- MorningSchool and planning
- MiddayFood, travel, and a reset
- AfternoonCourt work
- EveningRecovery and family
04 / Family
Coach when needed.
Neil helps with the driving, planning, filming, encouragement, and perspective. Coaches guide the tennis. Family keeps the rest of life in view.
There is ambition here, but there is also laughter, downtime, and the understanding that Penny is more than a score or a ranking.
05 / Follow
Keep up with Penny.
Practice clips, family updates, and new entries from the road.