Meet chanelle van nguyen | Professional Tennis Player

Hi! I am from Coconut Grove, and I was born to immigrant parents from the Philippines and Vietnam. From a young age, I was taught that discipline, hard work, and persistence are the key ingredients to success in anything I do.

My parents had very little growing up, so I was always taught to be grateful for the little things in life. This is why I feel so blessed to have grown up in a city like Miami. I have been fortunate to travel the world at a young age and earn a scholarship to college, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the lessons I learned from my parents.

My parents have the biggest hearts and have always told me that it’s better to give than to receive, which is why I have a huge passion for helping others. I’m very involved in giving back to the community! I am an ambassador for Acing Autism and serve on the young professionals board at the WOW Center Miami. 

A little bit about me: I am an Asian-American professional tennis player, born and raised in Miami,FL. My parents moved to the U.S in search of a better life, and I was the first person in my family to receive a full scholarship to study and play tennis at one of the best universities in the world, UCLA. After winning a National Championship in 2014 and becoming a two-time All-American, I went on to become Vietnam’s highest-ranked female tennis player. More recently, I won a bronze medal at SEA Games (South East Asian Games). I was also recently featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 Local list for Miami!

Off the court, I would say I’m definitely a creative person. I love creating content to inspire others to get on the court and share my love of the game. I also have a book coming out soon on mental toughness in sport, as well as a podcast series in the works!

While I am proud of how far I’ve come despite many obstacles, I believe there is still much more I want to achieve. I believe one of my callings in life is to help and inspire people. Whether it’s motivating others to be their best selves or giving back to the next generation of young leaders, my goal is to make a difference and give back whenever I can. I am currently involved in local charities and foundations, specifically as an ambassador for Aceing Autism, a foundation focused on helping kids with autism learn the game of tennis. I am also on the young professionals board for the WOW Center in Miami. Additionally, I have been involved with other charities such as the Ronald McDonald House and Youth Special Olympic Games.

If I had a friend that was visiting, I would definitely take them around my hometown of Coconut Grove because it’s so peaceful near the water, and the area of Cocowalk is so charming! I would take them to GreenStreet or El Bagel for brunch, Chug’s for a café con leche, and Books & Books. For dinner, my favorite spot in the Grove is Sappore di Mare, a local Italian restaurant with amazing food. Outside of the Grove, I would take them to Miami Beach for a night out and for an outdoor activity, either padel at Reserve or sunset kayaking at Sunset Harbor!

Well, there are many people I would love to shout out who have all contributed to my success so far, but of course, I wouldn’t be here without my parents. They have supported and believed in me since I was a young girl, and I owe all of my success to them!

Also, a big thank you to Aceing Autism and my friends at the WOW Center. You are all incredible, and I am grateful to be a part of your community!