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Ryan Lipman never envisioned his life without professional tennis. He entered college at Vanderbilt expecting to use the experience as a stepping stone to the next level.

Ryan Lipman

But Lipman’s body had other ideas. The Nashville native endured three hip surgeries that left him unable to handle the rigors of high-level tennis.

Once his successful college career ended, Lipman had to figure out Plan B for life.

“The injuries really changed my perspective and made me realize there is so much more than just tennis out there,” Lipman said. “I got hurt and all of a sudden my dream of being a professional tennis player was in jeopardy. It was something I had to live with. I could either sit there and sulk and feel bad for myself, or realize that wasn’t the direction I was meant to go in. My mom used to say all the time, ‘either be bitter or be better,’ and I love that saying because it’s so true.”