A Passion for Tennis
Abigail is a superstar on the court.
As a freshman last year, Abigail Mattias played number five in the singles lineup, and helped the Armijo team go undefeated in League. Known for her powerful forehand, she hits many winners down the line. When asked about the upcoming season, she said, “I think the Armijo team will do well. We have a strong line-up and determined players.” Abigail enjoyed her first season with the team and said her favorite memory was playing at MEL’s. For high school matches, she enjoys traveling to Rodriguez, because they have the best courts. “Armijo’s courts,” she said, “could be improved by getting rid of the weeds and cracks, and fixing the court with the missing net.”
Abigail first started playing tennis when she was six or seven, but ended up taking a break for a couple years. In 6th grade, she started playing competitively. Most weekends she hits out at the courts with her parents. She’s played tournaments in various places, but her most memorable tournament was in Lafayette. When asked which stroke she likes the best she said, “My forehand, because it’s my most powerful stroke.” Her favorite pro player is Novak Djokovic, and she watched the Pro Challenger Tournament at Rancho Solano last year, where many professional players competed for the $50,000 prize.
Along with tennis, Abigail also has a passion for badminton. “I used to like to swim as well, but I prefer tennis and badminton much more now.” Although tennis and badminton both use racquets, the two sports are quite different. “People often think that badminton requires the use of your wrist more than tennis, but it actually doesn’t. Stances and movements are much different, too. But both sports require good hand eye coordination and quick feet.”
When she’s older and has a career, she’s not sure whether she’ll continue playing tennis. “I’m not sure if I’ll play a lot of tennis as an adult. I hope to be successful in my profession and maybe play tennis as a hobby.” If she does keep playing tennis, she’ll probably play singles, instead of doubles. “I prefer singles to doubles,” she said.
