Not long after this year’s Mylan World TeamTennis draft, Springfield Lasers coach and three-time Coach of the Year honoree John-Laffnie de Jager unveiled his strategy for the 2015 season: ladies first.
“We all know WTT, it’s a lot about the women,” de Jager told wtt.com during Indian Wells. “…and we’ve got a solid line-up on the women’s side.”
Looking to go one better than Springfield’s second place finish in the 2014 Mylan WTT Finals, de Jager immediately employed that mantra by taking a Riske—Alison Riske, to be exact—as an exempt player, one making her Mylan WTT roster debut.
“I was just honored that anyone drafted me!” Riske told wtt.com, joking, “I was glad I wasn’t, like, a last-round pick.”
Riske had been a rather enigmatic quantity in her early years on the WTA Tour, tending to play her best tennis at a then-International level grass court event in Birmingham. It wasn’t until 2013 that she won her first Grand Slam main draw matches.
Since then, however, the American has become a formidable big stage opponent. Reaching the third round of Wimbledon two of her last three outings, Riske upset two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova to reach the second week of the US Open—her best major result to date. On the dynamic, brightly colored Mylan WTT courts, Riske believes she’ll fit in just fine.
“To be honest, grass is my favorite surface, so I like being aggressive and playing fast,” she said.
A former benchwarmer for the Washington Kastles, the 24-year-old is grateful for the experience that should help her to hit the ground running once the season starts.
“It’s definitely positive that I had a match under my belt just to know the format, because obviously it is different from playing a regular tournament,” she said. “I think it keeps the fans involved and engaged because it is fast-paced. Hopefully I can use that to my advantage.”
Riske will be starting the season behind her fellow Lasers—something that is certainly on the American’s mind—but she hoping things click fast when she makes her regular season debut.
“I think the better chemistry that you have outside the court, the better on. I don’t know everyone on the team, so it’ll kind of be a ‘meet and greet’ for the first few matches, I’m sure,” Riske said with a laugh. “I’m definitely looking forward to it; obviously everyone on the team is very experienced, so I’m looking forward to playing with them.”
In front of the raucous Springfield crowd, Riske is not only aiming to connect with teammates like Michael Russell, Anna-Lena Gronefeld and Andre Begemann, but also with the spectators in the stands.
“I feel like it’s inspiring for us players, when a child acknowledges you, and says, ‘I watch you, and love how you play.’ I think that there’s no better feeling than that,” Riske said. “Hopefully once they see us play that they can aspire to do the same thing.
“It’s definitely rewarding to have young followers who think you’re great.”
Off the court, the Top 50 star has a wry sense of humor and an engaging personality that is sure to win over the fans at Springfield’s home stadium.
That is, if she can find the place.
“I’ve never even really been to Missouri, I don’t think! My brother-in-law is from there, so I immediately asked him, ‘Have you ever heard of Springfield?’” she recounted.
The American definitely knows how to have fun, but dismiss her at your peril; Riske is more than capable of playing some serious tennis, and aims to be clutch in a format where every point counts.
“This is my sixth year on tour, and I think the thing that I most improved was just the mental aspect of things,” she said. “Everyone at this level can play tennis, you know everyone can hit the ball, so it’s a matter of managing your emotions and sticking with it.”
With Riske on board, Springfield hopes its Laser line-up will shoot first, and win the King Trophy later.