McCartney Kessler grew up in the tiny Georgia town of Calhoun, in a family passionate about tennis and inspired by parents who were collegiate players and siblings who took to the game. Weekends often meant playing together, and when Kessler and her older brother showed real promise, their parents began the ritual of driving them an hour to the Atlanta suburbs for practice several times a week.
Now a WTA pro, Kessler reached a career high ranking of 30 last year and ended her 2026 season early to recover from injuries.
To hear Kessler tell it, family is everything. Her parents were supportive, but they also knew when to give her space while trusting coaches with the technical side of developing her game, a rarity in many young pro careers—especially when the parents are so accomplished. She credits them alongside the strong Atlanta tennis scene, with USTA junior programs as well as the more adult-oriented Atlanta Lawn Tennis League (ALTA) for creating a rich context for tennis all around her.