Jamea Jackson facts for kids
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| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Bradenton, Florida |
| Born | September 7, 1986 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Turned pro | 2003 |
| Retired | August 24, 2009 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $455,220 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 120–87 |
| Career titles | 2 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 45 (November 13, 2006) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2006) |
| French Open | 2R (2006) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2005, 2006) |
| US Open | 2R (2006) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 7–23 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 266 (October 30, 2006) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | 1R (2006) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2006) |
| US Open | 1R (2004, 2005, 2006) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career record | 1–1 |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| US Open | 2R (2006) |
Jamea Jackson (/dʒəˈmiːə/ jə-MEE-ə; born September 7, 1986) is an American former professional tennis player. She reached a singles ranking of 45 in the world at the end of 2006.
Jamea was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. After retiring from playing, she became a coach.
In August 2009, she became the Assistant Coach for the Oklahoma State University Women's Tennis Team. She also coached the USTA collegiate team in 2010 and 2011. In July 2013, Jamea joined the USTA staff in Boca Raton, Florida. She worked as a National Coach for Women's Tennis.
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Jamea's Tennis Playing Career
Jamea started her tennis journey on the ITF Junior Circuit. In 2003, she was ranked among the top 20 junior players in the world. This was true for both singles and doubles.
She became a professional player in 2003. For the next few years, she played on the ITF Women's Circuit. These are tournaments for professional female tennis players.
Winning Her First Titles
Jamea won two singles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. Her first win was in 2003 in Dallas, Texas. It was a $10,000 tournament played on a hard court.
Her second win came in 2004 in Tucson, Arizona. This was a bigger $50,000 hard-court event. She also reached one final in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2004.
Playing on the WTA Tour
In 2004, Jamea started playing more WTA events. The WTA Tour is the highest level of professional women's tennis. She began playing a full schedule in 2005. That year, she broke into the top 100 players in the world.
Her Best Year in Tennis: 2006
The year 2006 was Jamea's best. She won 26 singles matches and lost 22. During this year, she made history.
She was the first tennis player to use the Hawk-Eye instant replay system. This happened in her first-round match at the 2006 Nasdaq 100 Open. Hawk-Eye uses cameras to show if a ball was in or out.
Jamea challenged a call, and it turned out to be wrong. Her opponent, Ashley Harkleroad, also challenged a call later. Ashley was the first player to challenge a call correctly. Jamea won that tough match.
Representing Her Country
In 2006, Jamea helped the United States Fed Cup team win against Germany. The Fed Cup is a major international team competition in women's tennis. She won both of her matches, helping the U.S. team advance.
Reaching a WTA Final
On June 17, 2006, Jamea reached her first WTA Tour final. This was at the DFS Classic in Birmingham, England, played on grass courts. She defeated strong players like Jelena Janković and Maria Sharapova.
In the final match, she played against Vera Zvonareva. Jamea lost in a very close match.
Dealing with Injuries and Retirement
After her successful 2006 season, Jamea faced challenges. She had a hip injury that kept coming back. This injury needed surgery.
In April 2008, after being away from the tour for eight months, she returned. She played well, winning six matches in a row at an ITF event.
Jamea played her final match at the 2008 US Open. She officially retired from professional tennis on August 24, 2009. Her recurring hip injury and her new coaching job led to her retirement.
Jamea's Grand Slam Appearances
Jamea played in all four major tennis tournaments, known as the Grand Slams. These include the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
She reached the second round at the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open in 2006. She also made it to the second round at Wimbledon in both 2005 and 2006.
About Jamea Jackson
Jamea started playing tennis when she was 8 years old. Her family has a sports background. Her father, Ernest, played professional football in the NFL. He was a cornerback for teams like the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons.
Her mother, Ruby, was a flight attendant for over 30 years. She even wrote a book about her experiences called "Flying High: Diary of a Flight Attendant." Jamea also has an older brother named Jarryd.
As a coach at Oklahoma State University, Jamea focused on helping players grow. She also helped find new talent for the team. In 2014, Jamea earned a degree from Oklahoma State. She studied University Studies and had a minor in Psychology.
