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Best friends for life: Vivian Ovrootsky and Charlotte Chavatipon's friendship extends beyond tennis

Cronkite PR Lab Produced Stories Opens in a new window
Best friends for life: Vivian Ovrootsky and Charlotte Chavatipon's friendship extends beyond tennisBest friends for life: Vivian Ovrootsky and Charlotte Chavatipon's friendship extends beyond tennis
Sedona Levy/Sun Devil Athletics

By Sarah Singh and Shane Sayegh, Cronkite PR Lab

The moment that defined the friendship of Sun Devil Women’s Tennis’ Vivian Ovrootsky and Charlotte Chavatipon wasn’t one on the tennis court, as expected.

It wasn’t during a big match or after a tough practice. It was over a debate of pizza preferences.

“I can eat pineapples on pizza,” said Ovrootsky, during a debate about whether pineapple belongs on pizza or not.

“That’s my new best friend,” said Chavatipon. At this point, Ovrootsky was the “new girl” on the team, an incoming 17-year-old commit who wanted to make a lasting first impression on her new teammates.

The rest is history for this pair of friends, a bond formed between two athletes that would carry them across states, through collegiate tennis, and into one of the most meaningful relationships to come out of this sport.

Both Ovrootsky and Chavatipon started their tennis careers young, one at just three years old and the other at four years old. While both of their tennis journeys started in California, their paths wouldn’t cross until college, where they both committed to play at the University of Texas.

At the University of Texas, both Ovrootsky and Chavatipon received accolades, such as All-Big 12 First Team in Singles and Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

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Currently, Chavatipon is an assistant coach for the Arizona State, and Ovrootsky is a senior wrapping up her collegiate tennis career at Arizona State. Their friendship deepened during their time playing together in college, both ladies learning how to navigate the new pressures of being a college athlete.

Tennis, as the two girls explained, is often misunderstood.

“A lot of people say tennis isn’t physical. That’s a lie,” Chavatipon said. “And they say it’s not mentally tough. That’s also a lie.”

Tennis demands mental endurance where matches, as described by Chavatipon are battles of your focus and resilience to win.

“You’re in fight or flight the entire time,” she said. “If you mess up, it’s kind of on you.”

That pressure intensified during their collegiate years, when these individual performances directly affected the team's placement. 

“When I’m not feeling my best, I don’t do it for me,” Ovrootsky said. “I do it for my team.”

The girls describe their dynamic as a balance of humor and discipline. Off the court, they are often described as goofy and constantly joking with each other, but once they step into the tennis environment, things change.

“We know when things get real,” one said. “It’s not personal, it’s for the betterment of the team.”

For Chavatipon, stepping into a coaching role and navigating the new challenge of guiding her best friend has been a true testament to their friendship, deepening their trust and bond.

“It’s like coaching your sister,” Chavatipon said. “There are things you want to say, but it’s harder.”

Still with the foundation as strong as theirs, they make it work.

“We’re like mini versions of each other,” one said. “We’ve taken personality traits from one another.”

Chavatipon describes a connection that goes beyond words, a friendship of shared understanding due to similarities in experiences and background.

“I don’t even have to say anything,” Chavatipon says. “She just gets it.”

As their collegiate athletic careers start to wind down, their future endeavors are at the forefront of their mind. Ovrootsky is hoping to work in sport marketing, and Chavatipon is hoping to continue coaching and building the next generation of tennis players.

But, through it all, their friendship remains a constant in their lives.