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Ann Duong & Alessandra Pedergnana

This is a reunion conversation between Ann Duong and Alessandra Pedergnana, former high school tennis teammates at Saint Francis Prep who reconnected after 20+ years. Ann is now a tennis instructor in the LA area, while Alessandra has become the tennis coach at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Alessandra's Tennis Journey
Playing Career:

Started tennis at age 7 at Cunningham Park in NYC
Had a successful high school career, potentially going undefeated
Received a full Division I scholarship to University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Progressed from #4 singles as a freshman to #1 singles as a junior/senior
Was part of her college's Hall of Fame
Had sponsorship interest from Prince but chose the college route

Coaching Career:

23+ years in collegiate coaching (17 years at Navy, 2.5 years at UMBC)
Works with the same coach who coached her in college
Currently coaches at the U.S. Naval Academy

Coaching Philosophy & Approach

Describes herself as a "players coach" who treats each athlete individually
Emphasizes aggressive play while adapting to each player's strengths
Focuses on developing character and building lifelong relationships
Uses video analysis extensively for player development
Believes in being available 24/7 for her players, taking on big sister/mom roles as needed

Recruiting Process
What she looks for in recruits:

Court behavior and sportsmanship (more important than rankings)
How players handle pressure and competition
Character assessment - how they treat parents, coaches, others
Tennis ability across all aspects (baseline, net play, mental toughness)
Uses multiple tournament observations, not just single matches

Recruiting advice:

Contact coaches via email/phone (not social media DMs)
Create highlight videos showing full court play and match situations
Showcase competing against quality opponents
Communication can begin during rising junior year of high school

Naval Academy Experience

Emphasizes the unique bonding experience of going through military training together
Players develop strong team chemistry and lifelong relationships
Represents the Academy 24/7, both on and off court
Challenging but rewarding environment that develops character
Many former players serve in Navy/Marine Corps worldwide

Training & Development
Physical preparation:

Strength training twice weekly, conditioning twice weekly
30-minute focused sessions due to Academy time constraints
Tennis-specific agility and footwork emphasis
Importance of fitness for competing against older, stronger collegiate players

Technical development:

Individual sessions in fall for technique work
Video analysis using software that condenses matches
Focus on specific situations (deuce points, shot types, etc.)
Emphasis on not making major changes during competition season

Personal Insights
Playing style strengths/weaknesses:

Strong forehand and serve (her two main weapons)
Excellent court vision and strategic thinking
Weak backhand (relied heavily on slice)
Good anticipation compensated for lack of speed
Developed volleys through intensive training at Port Washington

Personal growth:

Learned to give herself grace over the years
Very intense competitor during matches but fun-loving off court
Made significant fitness improvements in senior year of college
Currently dealing with disc issues but working on recovery through PT and chiropractic care

Current Life

Lives 6 minutes from Naval Academy in Annapolis
Has a 12.5-year-old pit terrier mix who is beloved by her parents
Parents live an hour away in Delaware
Enjoys watching "trash TV" to decompress from tennis
Attends US Open annually during Labor Day weekend
Refuses to play pickleball (strong stance shared with Ann)

Future Plans

Intends to continue coaching at Navy
Focuses on family time and maintaining work-life balance
Considering recovery timeline for return to playing tennis
No current plans for opening own academy

Key Themes

Relationships matter most: Emphasizes lifelong connections over just winning
Character development: Uses tennis as vehicle for developing good people
Adaptability: Tailors approach to each individual player
Perspective: Believes perspective is everything in handling challenges
Gratitude: Consistently expresses appreciation for opportunities and people in her life

The conversation reveals two former teammates who have both dedicated their lives to tennis in different ways, sharing wisdom about competition, coaching, and finding fulfillment through developing others in the sport they love.