Despite an icy climate, Alaska boasts tennis talent

From humid New York City to the sizzling Santa Monica sands, most of the United States is cranking up the AC to keep cool. But Alaskan tennis player Eddie Lewis' journey in the frozen and snow-covered fields might just bring down the heat by replacing the glimmering sun with 18-hour days blanketed by stary night skies.

There is no time for rest when one is chasing their dreams and this seems to be the case for Lewis, who begins his day before sunrise. The 25-year-old loads a truck full of freshly baked donuts and delivers the sweet pastries to customers all around the Anchorage area. He does this early morning donut drive at least five times a week in order to fund his tennis training and traveling expenses.

"It gives me the best hours to give myself the best chance to fund my physical training, fund my tournaments, because the more money I make the more tournaments, the more flights I can book, the more hotel rooms, the better chance I have to play more tournaments," Lewis says.

The Alaskan native played for Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. and is the first Alaskan to win an ATP point. Lewis has a burning passion for the game and he's putting in the miles in hopes to see just how far he can go on the pro tour. He's already proved to be the most successful tennis player out of the beautiful snowcapped state, but he's looking to break down more barriers that extend past the boundaries of his home.

Lewis didn't get to where he is now on his own. It was the people around him and the close-knit tennis community at The Alaska Club that supported him and also gave him an opportunity to still practice during the cold winters. It's the only indoor tennis facility in Alaska that can be accessed at all hours of the day.

"We want to make sure that we give everyone an opportunity. You have people that work in the mornings, people that work in the afternoon, let's give everyone the opportunity to come in and play," says tennis director of the Alaska Club Jimmy Kayango.

Kayango is not alone in providing options and opportunities for players of all ages and skillsets. President of the Alaska Tennis Association Dana Griffin is also pushing for the same and is focused on growing the sport throughout the state.

"We've seen leagues grow from 24 players to 600," Griffin says.

Tennis in Alaska—a state dominated by ice hockey and winter sports—has numerous hurdles to leap over. There are many days where ice and snow cover the courts, and with just one indoor facility, it can make playing tennis seem impossible.

Although the dreary weather is a force to be reckoned with, Griffin is finding creative ways to keep tennis alive. Sometimes using gyms and any other indoor spaces to frame tennis courts for players to continue learning and playing.

It's this innovative spirit and passion to not just keep the game alive, but to flourish, that continues to fuel Lewis' quest to climb the ATP rankings ladder.

"My goal is to help all the juniors here get into college tennis," Lewis says. "I can help them with recruiting and all the coaches I met while I played collegiate tennis to try to get a good young crop of collegiate tennis players."

While ice may consume the winding roads of Alaska, Lewis, along with the Alaskan tennis community, will melt the path ahead with their burning passion for the game.