Instead, the freshman served as a motivator and a leader, a sparkling example of quality tennis and sportsmanship for the entire Harvard squad.

If deLone let her success go to her head, she doesn't show it. The freshman talks quietly about herself and downplays many of her accomplishments.

For example, deLone sees nothing special about the fact that she gave up the French Open this year to participate in the Crimson's spring break trip to California.

"There was no way I wanted to leave the team," deLone says, "It never even crossed my mind."

She refuses to boast that she can be number one in the world, preferring the tactful response instead: "If I can get up to 20 in the world, I'd be very satisfied."

DeLone freely admits that it's always been her dream to become a professional tennis star. But at age five, she took up the sport for slightly different reasons--to model herself after her older sister, Amy deLone '91, now on the procircuit herself.

"I always wanted to do everything she wanted to do," deLone says. "She was more talented than I was, but I always worked harder because I wanted to catch up with her."

The younger sister began playing in local tournaments when she was seven, and around the nation two years later.

Practicing during the winter at country clubs near her home in Lincoln, Mass., deLone spent her summers traveling on the junior circuit and quickly established herself as one of the most promising young players in the country.

At age 13, deLone began spending her summers at the famed Nick Bollettieri Tennis Camp in Bradenton, Fla., further refining her game with intensive training and tournament schedules.

"I started out in really small tournaments," deLone says, "and then I just kept trying to move up. It is a very slow process."

Blossoming Tennis Player

By the middle of high school, deLone began to blossom as a tennis player. She spent her junior year in Florida in order to train at Bollettieri's camp on a regular basis. As a senior, she made her first stab at international tennis, touring the world as a member of the United States Junior National team.

The sturdy, blond-haired athlete took the year off after graduation to play on the "senior" professional circuit. She refused all prize money beyond travelling expenses to maintain her amateur status.

She played in all the biggies. The Australian Open. The French Open. Wimbledon. The U.S. Open.