FEATURE: Unable to Imagine Life Without Tennis, Yara Madi Finds Her Home at Ferris State

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Yara Madi had a good "feeling" about Ferris State as she searched for the right opportunity to continue her tennis career in the United States and pursue a college degree that fit her goals.

A native of Lebanon, Madi thought carefully about both her short- and long-term future.

She understood tennis could be her vessel.

"I've been playing tennis since I was seven years old. So, it has always been a big part of my life and my family's as well," said Madi, a 5-foot-3 sophomore, who comes from a tennis family. "My dad and my sister both play tennis. The sport has always been something that connects us."

Back home, Madi began sharpening her focus — and planting the seeds for major life decisions she was going to have to make.

"During my junior year of high school, when it was time to start applying to universities, I tried to picture my life without tennis and honestly couldn't," she said. "What attracted me to the United States was the chance to pursue my education while still competing at a high level."

In many parts of the world, that student-athlete balance simply isn't possible.

"In many other places, you often have to choose one or the other," Madi said. "The U.S. system allows you to do both. That balance stood out to me."

Soon, Ferris State popped onto her higher education radar, and eventually, she got in touch with head coach Mark Doren.

"As simple as it sounds, my decision to commit to Ferris State really came down to a feeling," she said. "I had spoken with several coaches from different universities. This one felt different from the start. Talking with the coach and the girls on the team made me feel super comfortable. I just felt like it was the right choice for me."

In two years, she has found a home away from home in Big Rapids.

"It's kind of like I have my second family here," Madi said.

She had a good example to follow – her sister, Joan Madi, a senior on the East Carolina tennis team in North Carolina.

"She's been doing really well and is enjoying her last semester," Yara said. "It's been nice having her to share this experience with, even though we're pretty far from each other. I've learned a lot from her, and I'm very grateful."

Coming from Lebanon to the U.S. brought opportunity — and challenges.

"It was definitely hard at the beginning. Being away from home and everything familiar isn't easy, especially at first," Yara said. "My teammates and coaches helped a lot. Having a team with so many internationals made a big difference. A lot of us understood what each other were going through."

Staying in touch with family back home can be challenging.

"The hardest part is the time difference, which makes it frustrating to communicate with my family," Yara said. "But having a sister who is also studying in the U.S. makes it a lot easier since we're going through the same experience together."

That support system among her fellow Bulldog tennis players has been helpful and educational.

"It's been really cool," she said. "I've gotten to learn about different cultures while also sharing mine. That has made the whole experience feel easier."

On the court, Yara sees her play improving. Doren salutes her hard work, which started during her freshman year last season. Her play continues to improve steadily.

"This season has been going really well," said Yara, who during the Bulldogs' last home match, a 5-2 win over Hillsdale, on Feb. 21, won her singles flight two sets to one and was a doubles winner, 6-2, with partner Madeline Peisley. "We have a strong lineup from top to bottom, and I honestly think this is the closest team we've had since I've been here. That chemistry has made a big difference on and off the court."

Progress has been steady for Madi.

"I feel like I've improved a lot, especially mentally," Yara said. "I'm also a much stronger doubles player than I was when I first arrived. Getting hit in the eye during my first doubles match definitely forced me to adjust and improve quickly."

While tennis is largely an individual sport, Madi has embraced the team dynamic at the collegiate level.

"I've realized how much being part of a team pushes you as an individual," she said. "There have been many moments where my teammates helped me compete at a higher level than I would have on my own."

She added, "We have amazing vibes and a really strong team."

The Bulldogs are a driven, focused group.

"As a team, our goal is to win the GLIAC and go as far as we possibly can," Madi said. "I'm excited to keep competing and fighting alongside them."

The Bulldogs have won five of their last seven matches, including a strong stretch that featured a road loss at Division I Western Michigan.

Ferris State, 6-2 this season, next heads to Florida over spring break for matches scheduled March 8-13.

Academically, Madi is majoring in Marketing with a certificate in User Experience Design and is on track to graduate in spring 2028.

"So far, I am really liking it. I get to combine the strategic and creative parts. It challenges me in different ways, which is probably why I've stuck with it," she said. "The more classes I take, the more I understand what areas interest me most."

On and off the court, Madi continues to build the future she once struggled to imagine without tennis — one that allows her to compete, grow, and stay connected to the sport that has shaped her life.