Quarantine Q&A with Abi Altick
May 04, 2020 | Women's Tennis
In the second installment of Quarantine Q&A, catch up with women's tennis junior Abi Altick, whose team's promising season was cut short in March. Altick is a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete who is studying sociology and looking ahead to next season with a fully intact roster returning.
Q: When did you know you wanted to come to UCLA?
A: Growing up, I played a lot of national junior tournaments in California throughout the years. I always loved the West Coast and had heard great things about UCLA. Every year, UCLA is a top contender for a national championship, and I wanted to be a part of a program that had this standard of excellence. Throughout the recruitment process, the prestige surrounding UCLA, both athletically and academically, particularly stood out for me. It was the perfect opportunity to push myself both on the court and in the classroom. I knew most of the girls on the team, but actually coming here didn't really become a reality until I got to know the coaches and see the stunning campus. Our coaches prioritize good character, work ethic and respect. I knew I wanted to be a part of their program, to develop not only as an athlete but as a person as well. It was definitely the best decision I've ever made.
Q: Who first got you into the sport of tennis?
A: Tennis has always been a family thing. My dad plays pretty well, and he introduced my siblings and me to the sport when we were young. I was always tagging along to whatever my older siblings were doing, trying to keep up with them. I think I probably first picked up a racquet around four or five years old, so I can't really remember a time that I wasn't playing tennis [laughs].
Q: Do you have any tricks or routines you do before a match?
A: I don't really have any tricks, but I am pretty particular before matches. I always like to keep the same warmup routine and, if I am playing well, I'll keep eating the same thing, using a specific racquet, wearing the same hair ties, etc. Lots of little things that I'm superstitious about.
Q: Which of your coaches do you think could best compete in your sport today and why?
A: I would pick our head coach, Stella (Sampras Webster). As a Bruin, she was an All-American and won an NCAA doubles championship. She has amazing hands, and her volleys are still unreal. Stella also keeps things pretty simple, so I think she could probably still outsmart some opponents.
Q: If you could be a dual-sport athlete at UCLA, what other sport would you want to try and why?
A: I would definitely choose gymnastics. The reputation of UCLA gymnastics is unbelievable, and their athleticism and strength are incredible to watch. I don't think I would be very good at it, but I do love how supportive the gymnasts are of each other. There is so much attention surrounding their program, and I would love to experience what it's like to compete in Pauley in front of that many fans.
Q: If you could pick any other UCLA athlete to try out tennis, who would it be and why?
A: If I had to choose another UCLA athlete to try out tennis, I think I would choose one of my friends, Lauren Brzykcy of the soccer team. She's a goalie and technically already a dual-sport athlete because she actually played in a UCLA softball game last year. Lauren's a big tennis fan and obviously has quick reflexes, so I'm sure she could do well.
Q: Can you discuss what your thought process was like when you heard the news that your junior season was being cut short due to COVID-19?
A: We were in the middle of practice when we found out that our season was being canceled. There was a lot of confusion, disbelief and tears; it was all really difficult to process at the time. Everyone was pretty shocked, especially because we had just flown back to LA a few days earlier after beating the defending national champions, Stanford. We were completely unaware that it would be our last match of the year. Our team felt super special this year; we were off to an incredible start to the season and we knew we were capable of winning the Pac-12 and NCAA Championships. The good thing is that we will have our same team returning next year, plus a really strong recruiting class. I know that when we are all able to be back on campus and playing again, we are going to appreciate it that much more.
Q: Do you want to pursue professional tennis after your time at UCLA is complete?
A: Ideally, I would like to play professionally for a little bit after school, but I know that it's not a very good lifestyle unless you're playing in the biggest tournaments. It's extremely tough to make a living playing professionally, so I don't really see myself playing for too long after I graduate. But I am keeping my options open, so who knows?
Q: Can you share your experience on representing the United States and UCLA at the World University Games in Italy last summer?
A: Representing USA and UCLA at the World University Games last summer was definitely an experience I will never forget. One of the coolest parts of the trip was the opening and closing ceremonies. Walking through the ceremonies proudly wearing our Team USA gear along with the other American athletes was such a special feeling. Being in the midst of so many phenomenal athletes from all over the world and representing both teams, USA and UCLA, was such an honor. Spending two weeks in Italy with my teammate Sophie (Bendetti), one of my best friends, and our coach Rance (Brown), was a blast. We made so many crazy memories that we will always cherish. Being able to play in an event like this really makes all the hard work worth it. I am so grateful to have been able to represent my country and school, and to have been able to share this experience with some of my favorite people. It was honestly indescribable.
Q: Do you enjoy playing singles or doubles matches more?
A: Before college tennis, I always liked singles more than doubles. That's probably because I was better at singles, so I think I would have liked whichever I was winning more of [laughs]. However, college tennis has definitely made me enjoy doubles matches a lot more. We spend a lot of time practicing doubles, and I have gotten so much more comfortable and confident with my volleys at the net. Being able to practice and play with a consistent partner every week is super helpful, as well. Nowadays, I actually think doubles is a lot more fun than singles.
Q: Who would your dream match be against?
A: My dream match would definitely be to play Roger Federer at Wimbledon. I love watching him play because he's so graceful and makes everything look so perfect. I can't imagine what it would be like to hit against him, or even be in his presence [laughs].
Q: What are you studying at UCLA?
A: Coming into school, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I knew I wanted to choose something pretty broad, so I decided to major in sociology. Sociology gives me a lot of flexibility in deciding what career I want to pursue after college. The material is pretty interesting, and I think it will be useful in understanding interactions in the business world. I also wanted a major which had a course load that was manageable with our demanding tennis schedule.
Q: You have some athletic genes in your family. Who do you think would win in a match today between you and your sister, Frances (played tennis at Vanderbilt from 2013-16, was All-American in 2016)?
A: Well, she hasn't played competitively for a few years now, so hopefully I could take her down. Honestly, we never played many matches against each other growing up because it was better for family morale [laughs]. But Frances has always been one of my biggest role models and she has really shown me what it means to have a strong work ethic.
Q: Can you share how you have been able to cope with the current events of COVID-19?
A: The UCLA Athletic Performance staff has been awesome with providing us with workouts to do at home in order to stay in shape during this time. I'm super thankful for how accommodating they have been so far and I have also been liking the fun challenges they post on Instagram. Apart from doing their workouts, I've been doing a lot of running, which is a nice way to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. Running is really therapeutic for me, so it has definitely been helpful with staying sane during quarantine.
Q: What skill have you learned or remembered you had now that you have had some time away from tennis and campus?
A: One thing I have started to enjoy again is cooking. In high school, I used to love making different meals and desserts. Once I got to college, I was always so busy and I never made time to cook at all. Making dinner with my mom every night these past few weeks has been a fun way for us to catch up. It's also a good way to eat healthy, so hopefully once I get back to campus, I'll try to keep it up.
Q: What is your best UCLA memory?
A: I don't know if there is one particular memory that stands out. I think my favorites are probably just a combination of a bunch of different memories I have, whether that's big matches at LATC, fun weekends with friends or even the many hours spent hanging out in our team room. UCLA has given me so many new experiences and I wouldn't want to go to any other school.
Q: What does the game of tennis mean to you?
A: Even though I have had to make a lot of sacrifices for tennis, I am so thankful for the opportunities that it has given me. Tennis has taught me so many qualities that I can apply to other aspects of my life, such as self-discipline, mental toughness and perseverance. This sport has introduced me to the most amazing people and places, and it has given me some of the most exhilarating and infuriating moments in my life [laughs].
Q: What do you look forward to most about returning to campus?
A: I can't wait to be back on campus with my teammates. UCLA has an amazing atmosphere, and it is so motivating to be surrounded by such successful people. Just being on campus gives me a lot of energy, and I miss that sense of accomplishment of finishing a tough day of training and studying. The whole process of being a student-athlete is exhausting, but it's so rewarding.
Players Mentioned
