Nastassia Rubel is a long way from home, but that hasn’t stopped her from succeeding in tennis.
Originally from Minsk, Belarus, Rubel moved to the U.S. to play tennis for the University of Arkansas. However, the transition was far from easy.
She said, “When I got to Arkansas, I was a little depressed. I had been to 30 countries, but I had never been to the U.S. before, and my expectations about America were pretty high, but the first thing that I saw was Arkansas. I cried for the first three days, and I was homesick, so it was really hard.”
Rubel said poor coaching at the University of Arkansas was one of the reasons for the difficult transition.
“My coach there was really negative, which made me transfer here. But since I transferred here, I’ve been very happy because [our coach] is very supportive and we’re all friends on the team,” said Rubel.
Rubel is a sophomore political science major and business administration minor. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in an embassy.
Rubel explained the impact tennis has had on her life.
How did you get started in tennis?
“We always had guests in our apartment back home, and my dad’s friend use to play tennis and knew a coach and asked if I wanted to try to play tennis, and after a month, I had already won a tournament. Then my dad wanted me to try for professional, so here I am.”
How would you describe yourself as an athlete?
“Very competitive. I never give up, and, even if I’m playing bad, I will still keep trying and playing. So competitive would be the best word to describe it.”
What do you think is the hardest aspect of playing tennis?
“I think it’s health, for me, personally. I used to play professionally, and I had to quit playing because I had too many injuries. I was about to have surgery on my knee, and my health just wouldn’t let me play professionally. Now everything is fine, but I’m not playing professionally anymore. So I think that’s definitely the hardest.”
Do you want to continue playing tennis after college?
“No. I really love studying now. In my country, the education is really not as good as it is over here. But now, I’m really enjoying the education, and here I learn something new every day in classes, and I like how they are very small, which helps me learn more every single day. So, now, I want to focus on my career outside of tennis.”
Have you had any coaches who have influenced your tennis career?
“It was mostly my parents. My parents were never involved in sports, so they were mostly influential as my support. Second place was never good enough for my dad, so that’s why I’ve always had to strive to succeed. So I think my parents had the biggest influence on me, not coaches.”
What are your greatest strengths as an athlete?
“Endurance.”
What are your weaknesses as an athlete?
“I carry too much, which is what makes me worry a lot on the court, and, sometimes, it makes me nervous, and when I’m nervous, I don’t play my best tennis.”
What has been your proudest moment as an athlete?
“I’ve had many moments, but maybe when I was playing the Fed Cup in Mexico and when I had a chance to play Masters in Europe. It’s the top players under 16 in Europe, and I went there and was supposed to win the tournament, but I broke my ankle, so I don’t know if it’s the best moment. I’ve also played the 10 K’s in Italy, which is a double tournament. I don’t know, though. I’ve played in so many tournaments.”
Do you have any rituals that you perform before a match?
“I call my mom. She’s my best friend, so when I’m worried or anything, I call her, and everything gets better after I talk to her.”
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not playing tennis?
“I study a lot, so I don’t have a lot of free time, but I do enjoy sleeping and eating a lot. And, obviously, hanging out with my teammates. We do a lot of activities together.”
