When you think of Liezel Huber, you think of doubles. And chances are, when you think of doubles, you think of Liezel Huber. She is, after all, the top women’s doubles player in the world, having overtaken both Venus and Serena Williams to regain the No. 1 ranking on August 2. She’s now held the top spot for more weeks (137) than anyone but Martina Navratilova (237) and her former doubles partner, Cara Black (163). Last week in Cincinnati, Huber paired with Nadia Petrova and reached the semifinals before falling to Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs. We caught up with her at the tournament and discussed her connection to the ‘Locks of Love’ charity, whether she’ll play with Black again, and the announcement that the Williams sisters have committed to playing the Fed Cup final this November.
Can you tell us a little about your involvement with ‘Locks of Love’?
I’m just trying to make a difference. I don’t think I’m a tennis player just to be a tennis player. I think I’m a tennis player to try and make a difference. ‘Locks of Love’ is a cause where I can make a difference, where people don’t have to donate money or time, but it’s something where anybody can participate. You can grow your hair, and you can donate your hair. A friend of mine, Craig Buckenham, passed away at 13 of leukemia. At the funeral the prompter was going through pictures, and I realized that he didn’t have any hair in a lot of them. Craig always wanted to make a difference, so I thought I would do this in Craig’s honor.
A lot of tennis players want to donate or volunteer, but maybe they don’t have time and, if you’re an up-and-coming player, maybe you don’t have the money. But everybody can donate their hair. You can see my hair is short—I donated 13 inches. I’m growing my hair again now. I’m going to do it again. There are a lot of girls that are ready to cut their hair. We’d like to do it at the U.S. Open. We’d like to reach as many people as we can to inspire them to do the same thing.
Did you specifically go after players with long hair, like Anna Chakvetadze?
Yes, of course. She’s donating. The only thing we’re asking is that they don’t highlight or bleach their hair, because the kids can’t use that. Really it’s more to just show people that anybody can make a difference.
How does it feel to be the standalone doubles No. 1 again?
It’s a great accomplishment. Everybody strives to be the best in what they do, but it truly doesn’t define me as a person. I’m not Liezel Huber, No. 1 tennis player. I’m just Liezel Huber—I happen to be a tennis player. Sometimes I think people get caught up with the No. 1 or a ranking. I’m very fortunate to be No. 1, but I don’t consider myself the best. I think everybody’s unbelievable out here—we’re so talented. One thing I’m [proud] of is that I came from a Third World country. If I can come from a Third World country and make it big time and become an American and make a difference and do good at my job, other people can do the same thing. That’s the accomplishment that I’m proud of—where I came from to where I’m at, instead of my seed at a tournament.
Black and Huber (right) won four Grand Slam titles together, but ended their partnership this April. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Does it make it more special that the players you overtook were the Williams sisters?It’s kind of exciting because I was No. 1 then they became No. 1, and this is kind of the first turnaround. The first time when I became No. 1, with my partner Cara Black, I said to myself, “Really enjoy this moment, because you’re on the top of the rankings, but there will be tough times ahead.” Trust me, whether you’re No. 1 or No. 10 or No. 500, there are tough times ahead. So I’m going to enjoy this moment being No. 1. It doesn’t mean my goals are any different: I still want to improve, I want to be a better player, I want to work hard, I want to recover better. All those are things that everybody’s striving for.
Do you think you’ll be playing with Cara again sometime this year, and if not, have you decided on another permanent doubles partner?
Hmm, I don’t have a partner. Nadia and I are playing here, and we’re playing in Montreal and the U.S. Open. That’s pretty much the most I’ve committed with anybody all year. It’s kind of like when you’re single and dating [after] you’ve been in a relationship. Cara and I had the best relationship, we had the best partnership. We won a lot of titles together, and we have to remember those good things. But I’m enjoying being single, if you will. I’m enjoying working on myself, working on my game. You get really spoiled when you play with one person, and ultimately that’s what I would like to have—one person. But right now I need to focus on improving.
Because dating is kind of fun…
Yeah, it’s kind of fun. [laughs] You don’t know what to expect out there.
A press release came out that the Williams sisters committed to representing the U.S. in the Fed Cup final later this year. Your thoughts on that?
Oh really? Wow, that’s awesome. They’re the top of the top, the cream of the crop. They’re just unbelievable. In all honesty we have a long road until the Fed Cup—it’s only in November. If I told you that I thought that decision wouldn’t change or that it couldn’t change—there’s a possibility in sports that anything could happen. But the ultimate thing is that if they could play, I think we’d bring the trophy home. For the U.S. team that’s the most important thing. And I’d gladly step aside; I’m sure the U.S. just wants the trophy. So whoever’s on the team would be very proud winning the trophy. There’s a lot of tennis to still happen this year—I hope they stay injury-free. Like I said, they’re the top right now.
Any other thoughts on the Fed Cup final against Italy later this year?
The most exciting thing is being in the U.S. We’re going to have great support. It’s a great venue—San Diego’s got a great crowd. As you know, Melanie Oudin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands have been such valuable team members, and I hope they’re on the team as well as myself. We just want the trophy. And we’re not going to be overconfident. I think when we went into the final last year we almost couldn’t believe it and were a little overconfident and maybe a little cocky. They have a good team. Hopefully they struggle a little bit going into the match [laughs] and we bring our A game. But really wouldn’t that be amazing? We’ve worked really hard on our Fed Cup, and I love our captain Mary Joe. It’s a huge goal of ours.