Wpba

[Wally in Cincy]

Sarah,

When you first started playing on the tour did any particular player or players go out of their way to show you the ropes or make you feel welcome?

Wally in Cincy

 

[sarahrousey]

Hey Wally,

Everyone was pretty nice to me when I first started. Melissa Herndon was nice enough to congratulate me at my first tournament. Monica and Helena have always helped me if I needed help. But everyone is very nice and have made me feel welcome.

Sarah

 

[azhousepro]

Sarah, didn't Monica and Helena have something to do with you finally getting on the tour?

Mike

 

[sarahrousey]

Not that I know of. They may have told some people that I could play and have potential. I had to win qualifiers to get in the tournaments and then place well to get on tour.

 

[azhousepro]

I thought I had heard something about you playing one of them before anyone knew who you were.

Mike

 

[sarahrousey]

Ah, that story. Yes, I did play Monica when no one knew who I was and when I hadn't really decided what if I wanted to play professionally. Monica won but it was a very close match. 5 sets went hill-hill. It gave me some confidence to get out there and play.

 

[Wally in Cincy]

....... I had to win qualifiers to get in the tournaments and then place well to get on tour.

Sarah,

Thank you for the response.

How did it feel to win your first qualifier? Were you surprised at all? I would assume you were very confident with your game, considering you had played against Monica Webb previously and almost beaten her.

 

[sarahrousey]

When I won my first qualifier I was pretty suprised. Not because I didn't think I was good enough but more because I didn't think I was prepared enough. I found out about the first qualifier I won 3 days before the tournament and I had just started college for the year. I was still getting moved in and everything so I hadn't practiced. I ended up playing the best I had played in a long time. I was very suprised.

After winning the first one, it was tough. I started travelling and finding out that there are a ton of women that play. I had a lot of tournaments that I didn't win so that taught me alot as well. When I finally won a tournament afer travelling 1,000 miles. I was excited and relieved.