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2021 Northwest Herald Girls Tennis Player of the Year: Richmond-Burton’s Savannah Webb

By Joe Stevenson
Richmond Burton's Savannah Webb returns a shot to Grayslake Central's Karishma Bhalla during the 5th place match in 1A singles at the IHSA State girls tennis finals at Buffalo Grove High School Saturday October 23, 2021.

Richmond Burton's Savannah Webb returns a shot to Grayslake Central's Karishma Bhalla during the fifth-place match at the Class 1A State Tournament. Webb won that match in straight sets and is the Northwest Herald Girls Tennis Player of the Year. (Brian Hill/Daily Herald)

Richmond-Burton junior Savannah Webb had only three weeks to her high school tennis season, but made the most of that short time.

Webb lost only twice, in the Class 1A Antioch Sectional Tournament championship match and in the Class 1A State Tournament quarterfinals.

After winning the Kishwaukee River Conference Tournament No. 1 singles title, Webb, who has no team at R-B, was sectional runner-up and then took fifth place in the state tournament.

Webb is the Northwest Herald Girls Tennis Player of the Year, selected by the sport staff with input from local coaches.

Webb, who plays an extensive USTA Junior Tournaments schedule, lost to Grayslake Central’s Karishma Bhalla in three sets for the sectional title. Those two met again for fifth place at state, and Webb won that match, 6-1, 6-4. Webb was 5-1 in the state tournament.

Webb answered a few questions from sports writer Joe Stevenson about her season, her career and other various things.

What will you remember most about the season?

Webb: The thing that I remember most about the season was how cool it was at state when they set everything up for the championship matches.

What professional players do you most like to watch?

Webb: I like watching Angelique Kerber, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Denis Shapovolav the most.

What is your favorite class?

Webb: Biology and prevalence because they are the most interesting to me, and I enjoy learning more about the subjects. I also want to go into marine biology, so I take biology very seriously.

What other sport would you be good at?

Webb: I think that I would be good at track because I enjoy running long distances, but I don’t like running more than 2 miles.

Who was most influential on your career?

Webb: My peers that I met through practice are the most influential on my career because they always push me to be better. It is also helpful to see what others can become.

What are three of your favorite sports movies?

Webb: “Rudy,” “Soul Surfer” and “The Sandlot.”

What is your favorite wild animal?

Webb: I love sea turtles because they remind me of the ocean and all the good memories I have from the beach.

Who is the most famous person you have taken a picture with?

Webb: Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, at the Cubs Convention.

What do you eat in the morning before you get ready to play?

Webb: On the morning before a match I eat whatever leftovers we have in the house. I’m not a big breakfast person, besides pancakes, but I can’t eat those every day.

If you could have anyone as your doubles partner, who would it be?

Webb: I would love to play doubles with my best friend, Reese Frericks, even though she doesn’t play tennis. It would be so much fun to just mess around on the court.

What is one of your biggest pet peeves?

Webb: When people chew their nails.

What scares you?

Webb: Losing a loved one is what scares me most.

What song is on your play list that would surprise people?

Webb: “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.

What is your best tennis fashion advice?

Webb: Anything Lululemon is acceptable.

If tennis had walk-up music like baseball, what would be your song?

Webb: It would be “Dangerous” by Morgan Wallen.