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Sophomore Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico, a potential applied mathematics and statistics major from Pinecrest, Fla., is heading to Surprise, Ariz. to compete in the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships Nov. 7-11 by virtue of her dominant 6-4, 6-1 victory in the final of the ITA Cup Division III Singles National Championship on Oct.14. Her last victory pushed her singles record to 10-1 for this season.
Alex Moskowitz, The Emory Wheel: Can you explain your tennis history and how you got into the sport?
Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico: It was probably the first sport that I could play when I was five [years old] in France, so I just tried it out and I really liked it.
EW: Were there any mentors that have had an impact on your game and as an individual?
YG: My first coach made me love tennis, and my second-to-last coach, John McLean, before coming to college also improved my game a lot when I came to the U.S., and [he] made me believe in myself.
EW: What have you improved upon the most, in terms of the physical aspects of the game, as your game has progressed from junior tennis to college?
YG: I would say my serve and my forehand, and also the physical aspect. I’m fast, and that helps me a lot in my game.
EW: How have you grown as a player and person as part of the tennis program at Emory?
YG: As my coach says, it is a process that takes four years, so right now I have probably not grown to my full capacity, but I can already see the difference from last year, especially my mental game. I feel like I’ve improved a lot and I still have to improve a lot, but we will get there.
EW: What is your pre-game meal?
YG: I actually eat two pre-game meals: one that is lighter with a sandwich or bagel with a fruit and one that is heavier, pasta with meat.
EW: Do you have any music that you like to listen to before your matches?
YG: Before my matches, I like to put on hype rap or electronic songs, and right before stepping onto the court, I listen to “Keep it Mello” by Marshmello.
