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Athletes Corner
Career Transition
 Debbie Graham
Professional Tennis Player
Professional Sport: Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)Tour
Education: Graduated Stanford University in 3 Years
Majors: Political Science and Economics with a 3.9 GPA
1. How many years have you been a professional athlete?
I have played professionally for 8 years – ever since I graduated from college in 1992.
2. What were your greatest accomplishments in your collegiate and professional careers?
College
1) Winning the NCAA Team Championships all three years I played.
2) Winning the NCAA singles Championship.
3) Losing only one match during my college career in dual matches.
4) The team going undefeated for 4 years without losing to any school.
Professionally
1) Representing my country for two years playing in the Federation Cup, which is the highest honor as a top US Athlete other than playing in the Olympics.
2) Named Most Impressive Newcomer to the Tour in 1992.
3. Why are you retiring?
I am retiring because of health problems that will not allow my body to keep up with our tours demanding and vigorous
schedule. If I could keep playing, I would play for at least another five years since I am now getting a feel for what the working world outside of tennis is like.
4. How do you feel about retiring?
I am sad about retiring because tennis has brought so much to me. It is what I have done and loved most my entire life.
However, I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity I did and I made the most out of it. Not many people have even a chance at
the life I was able to lead. Not to mention make a good living at it. I am looking forward to retiring and seeing what else in life I
can excel at. I look forward to not having to travel anymore and spending more time with my friends and loved ones. It will
definitely be a challenge but I look forward to challenges and I HATE losing!! Even when a ball is not involved!
5. Did you gain any other work experience during your professional career?
I served on many player committees and sat on our Tour Advisory Board. I helped make decisions, change policy, attain
sponsor deals, and enforce rules. I learned through sponsor opportunities how to interact in social environments with sponsors
and other business related people. I helped plan events and learned what it was like to work behind the scenes in an event like a professional tennis tournament.
6. Do you have a resume?
I have a resume that I am quite proud of it. I think it shows what type of a well-rounded athlete I am.
7. What are your career plans?
I would like to stay within tennis and give back to the sport like it gave to me. Right now I would like to find something that I
am good at and that I enjoy doing. The most important thing to me in a career is having fun with it.
8. Do you have a job lined up? If so, with whom?
Currently, I am working for a start up Internet Security Company called Para-Protect. I am the Western Region Sales
Executive. Like anything new it is a challenge to learn about the business and industry. I am enjoying the challenge but I definitely miss my life as a tennis player.
9. Did the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) provide you any career support services?
The WTA has a Career Planning and Placement Program that is in its infant stages. They assist us in personality analysis to
see what our basic interests are outside of tennis. I have been fortunate to have met a number of people from my traveling
experiences and tennis participation. I plan to turn to those relationships to help me in my career pursuits.
10. What advice would you give other athletes facing retirement?
My advice would be to make sure before you officially retire that you have some type of idea as to what you may want to do. I
don’t recommend retiring and then looking for a job. Use the contacts you have made in your sport and see what interests
you. Try to get an idea of what you want to do and then pursue that while you are still an athlete. That way you have something waiting for you when you do officially retire.
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