“Paging Dr Riske, Dr Riske to the nurse’s station…”
In another life, it might have happened.
Funny to think that Alison Riske was just days away from shelving dreams of life as a professional tennis player and heading off to college. With the cost of making the jump to a full-time career proving too much, the Pittsburgh native – a self-confessed science buff – was set to take the first steps on the road to medical school at Vanderbilt University.
Then, two weeks before she was set to begin life as an undergrad, her tennis career was suddenly revived. “I had a sponsor come out and say that he would support me financially,” Riske said. “That changed the course of events.”
With that, Riske swapped textbooks and dormitories for a US Open qualifying wildcard – and the rest, as they say, is history. That was 2009, nearly five years ago. Without the arrival of her sponsor, she would most likely be fretting about her finals rather than playing to reach them.
Five years on and now ranked No.42 in the world, Riske comes into the season off a banner year in 2014, having won her first WTA title in Tianjin and making her first appearance for the US Fed Cup team.
The Americans have been out in force at the Hobart International, with six featuring in the first round, more than any other nation. For a tournament with a direct-entry cut-off at No.60 in the world – Madison Brengle, the world No.84, came through qualifying – it bodes well for the next generation of US women.
“We have a young group of American girls coming up, and we’re all actually very close,” said Riske, who ran into compatriot Christina McHale in her opening match, something of a disappointment for the 24-year-old. “We train together in America, so it was too bad that we came all this way and had to play each other in the first round.”
McHale’s retirement leaves Riske facing Bojana Jovanovski in the second round. The Serbian has a 2-0 head-to-head record over the No.8 seed, but Riske is ready for the challenge: “I’m definitely looking forward to playing another match, and just getting more matches under my belt before I get to the Australian Open.”
She had to laugh when the subject of grunting came up during a question-and-answer session with fans – “We’ve got some loud ones,” she admitted – but the conversation led on to her admiration for four-time Australian Open champion, Monica Seles.
“Her attitude set her apart from anyone else,” Riske said. “She always fought no matter the situation, and I always see that as commendable in anyone.
“I definitely looked up to her. I liked her grunt, too – maybe that’s where I got mine!”
Back in Hobart for a third time, Riske admits that the laid-back nature of the city and the escape from the pre-Grand Slam buzz of the mainland keeps her coming back – that, and her favourite restaurants.
“I’m on the see-food diet – you see food and you eat it!” she joked. “I’ve been into the gluten-free craze, but I’m not that strict.”
Riske may not be too particular when it comes to mealtime – she’s missing ‘proper’ US-style bacon while in Australia – but the US No.7 takes her physical preparation as seriously as any of her fellow professionals, a trait she believes goes some way to explaining the rising average age of the world’s top 100 players.
“People are putting a lot more emphasis on staying fit in the gym, keeping injuries at bay,” Riske said. “You go into the gym here and it’s always full, with people doing strength programs but also maintenance. That’s huge.
“As the game has progressed, it’s become more important that you stay physically fit. Whatever it is, I’m happy to see it. It means we’ll all have longer careers – hopefully!”
Asked about her goals for the season, Riske plans to keep it simple: “Just keep getting better, focusing on what I’m working on in practice, and just letting the rest unfold – going for it and enjoying it.”
After all, it’s not a matter of life and death out there.