Tennis Atlantic

UCSB’s Amelia Honer at US Open Qualifying: “She’s A Walking Sunshine”

Steve Fogleman in Queens

(August 20, 2025)–When Amelia Honer steps on Court 7 to face Katie Volynets this morning in the second round of US Open qualifying, she’ll have a lot more experience than some people may imagine against the #7 seed American. The young Philadelphia native was a UCSB standout and already has some valuable experience under her belt at Flushing Meadows.

In addition to easily handling American compatriot Whitney Osuigwe in round 1 on Monday, she received an even more valuable lesson the last time she was in New York on a wild card to the 2023 US Open Juniors after winning Clay Court Nationals.

UCSB Women’s Tennis Head Coach explained that she drew Court 6 while Daniil Medvedev was playing at the same time on Arthur Ashe. The crowd next door was going wild. It was so loud and distracting, she got nervous and cramped. Honer lost the first round match in three sets.

Since that time, it appears that she’s not only become stronger mentally, but physically too. “She got really fit. She spent more time on her fitness and her nutrition,” Thibodeau said. “She gained a lot of confidence and she also brought the energy and every day she got better and gained confidence.  She took every practice and made the best of it so I think that’s why she got so much better.”

Fresh off of her Q1 win on Monday, she agreed that she’s a better player now and that her college career was a big reason why.

“Oh my gosh, it’s the only thing that prepared me. There’s so much on the court and off,” she said. “Tough moments I was nervous for years at UCSB. There were tough moments and I was nervous here today. But we fought through it then so we can fight through it here” she added.

Thibodeau summed  up her UCSB career succintly: “She was kind of a mini star on our campus.”

He said that she wanted to enter the tour because she had so much success at the lower rnngs of the sport, having won two ITF 35K tournaments at the $35K level.

And growing up two hours away in Pennsylvania helps bring out the good vibes as well.

“It’s so nice because it’s close to home and there’s friends and family here. It’s somewhat local.”

Thibodeau concluded by saying the nicest thing I’ve ever heard a coach say about a player: “She’s a walking sunshine. She makes everyone happy.”