J.J. Wolf: How an Incredible Athletic Family of Mother and Sister Propelled Him to Tennis Glory

J.J. Wolf proves that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in his athletic family! Coming from an athletic family, he was lucky enough to say “My sister was also my first practice partner.” Not only did his family propel him into the world of tennis, but they also have been a crucial support for him from a young age. The American tennis star recently talked about how his family’s women have influenced his tennis career.

Danielle, J.J. Wolf’s sister, is an avid tennis player who played for Ohio State at the collegiate level, following in their mother’s footsteps, who played at Miami University. The Wolf family’s strong ties to the sport were further cemented when their father, Jeff Wolf, became a professional in the early 1990s.

In a conversation with ATP, he stated, “My sister was also my first practice partner and my mom was my first doubles partner. We used to have some mixed matches when I was growing up. My sister and my father versus my mom and I. That was probably what sparked my competitive personality. My mom would not want to lose. She’d say, ‘your father is going to tease us if we lose this’. “

Naturally, being a sportsmanlike family, the Wolfs’ are fiercely competitive. His first practice partner was Danielle, and his first doubles partner was their mother. Consequently, J.J. has consistently recognized the enormous role his family has had in enabling him to succeed where he is now.

Further, he added, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without them, that’s for sure. They’re very important people in my life and always will be.” However, it’s amazing to see how many of Wolf’s ancestors have participated in sports at different levels. Almost all sports, including basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, boxing, track and field, and tennis, have been participated in by the 26 family members combined.

Up to the age of sixteen, Wolf apparently played basketball, baseball, and soccer in addition to tennis. He had to select from among the various sports he enjoyed when it came time to turn pro. Moreover, the 25-year-old tennis star’s grandfather is also a big name when it comes to the Wolf’s name in the sporting world.

J.J. Wolf’s sporting legacy dates back to his grandfather who was a “pretty big deal”

In addition to coaching the Detroit Pistons and Cincinnati Royals and playing professionally in baseball, Charley Wolf, Wolf’s grandfather, was also a successful basketball player. Speaking on his grandfather’s influence in Cincinnati last year, Wolf remarked, “If you go anywhere in Cincinnati, someone is going to know one of us. My grandfather is a pretty big deal.” 

Looking back, he recalled, “When I played Cincy qualifying [Western & Southern Open] for the first time, all the questions from the local news sites were about my grandfather coming out to watch. All of us got our starts because of him.” Subsequently, after coming out of the qualifiers, he will face Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of the French Open. Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on his family’s athletic background? Do let us know in the comment section below.