A Proper Approach to a Pro Career : Tennis: Tu, 14, of Northridge keeps focused on her game, education--when she is not shopping.

It was a whirlwind summer for Meilen Tu, a 14-year-old sophomore at Granada Hills High.

In July, she won the girls’ 18-and-under National Clay Courts championships in Memphis, Tenn. A month later in Japan, she led the U.S. 14-and-under team to an International Tennis Federation World Youth Cup title.

Her next stop: Northridge Fashion Plaza.

“I’m going shopping,” Tu said.

Ready to shop until she drops, Tu is slightly stir crazy. Her trip to Japan caused her to miss the first two weeks of school, including orientation. She spent the last half of September locked in her room playing catch-up.

“Meilen worked her buns off,” said Helen Tu, her 20-year-old sister and a member of the UCLA tennis team.

Shopping is usually Tu’s preferred recreational activity. During the tennis season, the mall is her weekend sanctuary, a place where she can escape the pressures of big-time junior tennis and return to her teen-age mode.

“My friends have to be understanding,” said Tu, who does not play on the Granada Hills tennis team. “I can see them only on the weekends.”

During the week, Tu has little time for anything but tennis lessons, conditioning and studying. Considered among the best juniors in the country, she is following a path that will ultimately lead to professional tennis.

“She’s on track to be a great tennis player,” said Tu’s coach, Sam Olson of Newport Beach.

No timetable has been set for Tu turning pro. Although Jennifer Capriati was Tu’s age when she made her professional debut, Tu, at 97 pounds, is not as strong nor is she as big as Capriati was then.

“Her size is a problem but she makes up for it with a lot of speed, quickness and coordination,” Olson said.

Although she has played in Europe, Tu does not have as much international experience as European juniors.

“Meilen is obviously excelling in the U.S.,” said Helen, who serves as one of her sister’s coaches. “But she’ll tell you she usually has difficulty in Europe. They play a lot more international tennis over there and have much better all-round games.”

Olson predicts Tu will turn pro in two years, but her father, Ching, a retired engineer, and her mother, Mei, a former dance instructor in Taiwan, are not rushing her.

“Physically and psychologically, she has to be ready for the pros,” Mei said. “I see some of these girls playing pro who are not ready and all they are doing is wasting school time, money and energy.”

Tu herself is guarded. “Anything can happen,” she said. “An injury, anything, so it’s stupid to turn pro without an education.” Besides, she said, unless she has a sponsor, “It really would be expensive for my parents to pay for me to go all over the world.”

As for the pressure of playing at a high level, Tu thinks she can handle it. “I put pressure on myself,” she said. “I want to do well. It makes me feel good.”

But Tu realizes that her game needs improvement before she can think of trading backhands with Monica Seles. Right now, she is working with Olson “to clean up the flaws in her game,” he said.

Before her next major competition, the Orange Bowl tournament in Miami in December, Olson hopes to get her to shorten the backswing on her forehand, improve her second serve, put a small loop in her backhand and volley more often.

Tu’s attitude doesn’t need adjustment. “She’s tenacious and very, very enthusiastic,” her sister said.

Meilen is known for her aggressive, attacking style--if anything, she has to learn to slow down. “I call her a little fireball,” Helen said.

Helen began playing tennis at 12 and Meilen took up the sport shortly thereafter. “I didn’t know what I was doing,” Meilen said. She learned quickly, however, winning her first tournament--a Southern California Tennis Assn. satellite event--before she was 7. She was always precocious, beating older players.

“I haven’t lost to anyone my age or younger in the U.S.,” she said matter-of-factly.

With all of the trophies decorating their Northridge home, it is obvious that the family’s life revolves around tennis.

“We’re a team,” Mei said. “We always work together. Helen is the assistant coach and handles outside stuff like publicity. Ching helps with travel. I do scheduling, nutrition and massaging.”

And Meilen? “I just do the job,” she said.

Olson praises the Tus. “Meilen gets a good positive atmosphere from her family,,” he said. “Her mom is on top of her tennis but in a positive way.”

So far, Team Tu is having a great time. “We really enjoy it,” Mei said. “If Meilen is successful, we’re happy. If not, we’re still happy because we are having fun.”