Alison Riske, American Star, Risking It All, Making History

Pounding out a slugfest with a top player like Madison Keys can garner you global attention especially when the contest takes place at the mighty 2016 US Open and a never before in history news tagline follows the match.

As reported by indianexpress.com, “Keys, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals and Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, reined in her sometimes over exuberant groundstrokes to claim a 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2 win over the 60th-ranked Riske in a grueling two hour, 25 minute slugfest.

With the night program delayed by more than an hour following a ceremony to mark the opening of the tournament, the final match ended at 1:48 a.m., making it the latest women’s match ever at the U.S. Open.”

If you hadn’t heard of Pittsburg’s Alison Riske before, well now you have.

fciwomenswrestling.com, femcompetitor.com article, photo via Alison Riske Facebook

More and more people in the tennis world are taking notice of her.

We women’s tennis fans as well.

Now for the basics.

Alison Riske is an American professional tennis player who has won one WTA title, six singles and one doubles title on the ITF tour.

She reached the third round of the Australian Open in 2014, the third round at Wimbledon in 2013 and 2014 and the fourth round of the US Open in 2013.

Alison then reached her career high singles ranking of world number 36 on May 15, 2017 and she won her first WTA tour title on October 12, 2014, when she won the Tianjin Open.

A girl on the move, upwardly mobile is always the best way to be heading.

Alison first played tennis at the age of 3 years old after her father took her out to hit. You can never start too early.

Like many on the women’s tour who qualify to turn pro, Alison had a sensational amateur career which highlights how truly difficult it is to reach a number 36 global ranking.

Educated by the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, on her climb, Alison played the fall of 2006 for Peters Township High School, where she led the girls’ tennis team to the Pennsylvania State championship, and won the championship in singles.

For those of us who have had a daughter play high school tennis at a very high level, complete with a USTA ranking, we know what Alison achieved is incredible.

The following year, she won the USTA National Collegiate Clay Court Championship to earn a spot in the US Open qualifying draw, where she won her first match over Sorana Cîrstea before losing to Julie Ditty.

She also won the ITA Summer Clay Court Championships and finished second at the USTA National Hardcourts that year.

Please keep up. There’s more.

In early 2008, she earned the No. 1 ranking in her country in Girls 18s competition.

In May of 2009, Alison began a run on the ITF Women’s circuit.

As a qualifier, she reached the semifinals of a pro tournament in Indian Harbour Beach. In June she reached the finals of a tournament in Hilton Head, and again as a qualifier reached the semifinals of a tournament in Boston. Her brilliance continued as she reached another semifinal, this time in Atlanta.

Now for the break through.

At the 2013 US Open, Alison caused a massive stir when she defeated the former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová in the third round.

On August 31, 2013 the New York Times informed us about Alison’s early masterpiece. “On Saturday, she powered her way into the fourth round of a major for the first time, upsetting seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 6-0, in 1 hour 5 minutes. Riske was the only American player to win on this humid day at the United States Open.”

Very unique. Very impressive.

Still, there is a very hard ceiling to crack on the professional tennis circuit and its call the Top Fifty.

Finally Alison did it.

Our rising star reached the quarter-finals at the 2014 Hobart International, beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Casey Dellacqua.

In the 2014 Australian Open, she upset #23 seed Elena Vesnina, and made it to the third round before losing to #9 seed Angelique Kerber.

At the WTA Premier Birmingham, she reached the third round after beating Lyudmyla Kichenok in the first round and her twin sister Nadiia Kichenok in the second round.

Now for another very important headline.

On June 10, 2018 the group lastwordontennis.com spreads the word. “Alison Riske produced a grass court masterclass as she overpowered Conny Perrin to win her first piece of silverware in two years. The American was utterly dominant from the first ball and raced to a 6-2, 6-4 victory in front of a packed Centre Court crowd in Surbiton.

The 27-year-old has been on fire the entire week here on the grass, she has not even dropped a set, and found herself holding match points on the Perrin serve at 5-1 in the second set.”

Now that is about as close to perfection as perfection gets.

Which brings us to an intriguing question. You probably already know the answer to this.

Where is Surbiton?

It sounds like a possible sugar substitute, a far-away planet with three moons where Flash Gordon will battle the mighty Surbitonians to save planet earth, the antidote to kryptonite poisoning or a banned NFL steroid.

We mean all of that respectfully.

Yet it is anything but. It’s a really wonderful place. Hint? What country are most grass court tournaments played?

Let’s visit.

fciwomenswrestling.com, femcompetitor.com article, CC BY-SA 2.5, commons.wikimedia.org

Surbiton is a suburban neighborhood of south-west London within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

It is situated next to the River Thames, 11 miles south west of Charing Cross and formerly part of the historic county of Surrey.

Founded originally as Kingston-upon-Railway during the Industrial Revolution, Surbiton possesses a mixture of grand 19th century townhouses, Art Deco courts, and more recent residential blocks blending in with semi-detached 20th century housing estates.

Sounds very charming.

“I won’t predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible.”… Michael Phelps

We are certain that Alison will always fondly remember this historic place where she created her own personal historic moment.

So now you are a little more familiar with Alison Riske from Pittsburg USA. True?

Please keep in touch. Please keep an eye out. It’s worth the risk.

Now while we won’t predict anything historic, as you watch her continue to soar, this is just a small reminder that you just might be watching new history in the making.