WTT Philadelphia Freedoms

Interview with Chanda Rubin

December 6, 2006 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Philadelphia Freedoms News Release


Emily Martin: My name is Emily Martin and I am here interviewing Chanda Rubin for my African American Studies class.

Emily Martin: How do you think your success as an African American tennis player inspires younger generations? Or, do you think that you are a role model for other African Americans?

Chanda Rubin: Well, I think that I am probably a role model for some, I don't necessarily think about that for any real amount of time. I have definitely had kids come up to me or I have gotten letters and fan mail and different things like that where people are really inspired by some of the things I have done. And I understand it from the perspective that I have been inspired by other people. I think that's an important aspect and something I appreciate being able to give it to others. I think in terms of my success and the way that it can inspire generations, for me, it is just the ability to always keep fighting. I think that is something that kids need at times. There are always obstacles that are thrown in your way. There are difficulties. There are situations where some people have it easier than you do and you just see that so often. For me, it is important that kids know that you cannot let that stand in your way you have to always go for your dreams and believe in yourself. I have just learned that it is important so for me that's where I think the inspiration is. Emily Martin: Who were your role models when you were growing up? for instance Althea Gibson or Arthur Ashe

Chanda Rubin: I was always watching a lot of Zina Garrison and Lori McNeil, who are obviously two African American tennis players that were playing in Wimbledon semi finals and finals. They lived in Huston and trained in Huston, which was not far from where I lived. I had the opportunity before I turned pro drive down there and hit with both of them. For me, they were role models and I watched them, but I was also able to interact so it was more real. They definitely inspired me when I was younger. I also liked watching other players like Ivan Lendl. As a male, it was a little bit of different game, but I liked the way he played the game and his attitude towards the game. You know his hardness about it. He just went out there and did his job and played it as hard as he could. I think that's always the players and the people that I gravitated to while watching.

Emily Martin: Did those people have an influence on you when you won your Wimbledon junior title at the age of 16?

Chanda Rubin: They definitely had an influence just in me growing up and coming up in the game of tennis. And at that point I had still been playing junior tennis, but I was also playing some pro events so I was kind of mixing back and forth between the two. And I of course got the opportunity to see them play at the grand slam tournaments because I was also in the main draw a few of those times. It was kind of an up close and personal so they were still sort of role models in that way. It was at that time an opportunity for me to go where my game was going to go. That was an important step for me, winning junior Wimbledon and moving on deeper into the pros in that point.

Emily Martin: I know that you are one of the most charitable players in the WTA tour and have won numerous awards for that. Which award are you most proud of and why?

Chanda Rubin: Well, I think, I mean I have gotten a few that were kind of special. One was not necessarily an award, but I was the spokesperson for wheel chair tennis. I did that earlier on and I have appreciated it more as I got a little bit older actually than when I did it. That was something that was really special to me. I did that for just over a year and after that I was still involved just not as the spokesperson. I really got a chance to see other athletes and specifically tennis players that had some handicaps in a way which to them was not a handicap, it was just something that they had to overcome and had to adjust to. The attitude that each player took towards the game was amazing to me. I think that for me was one of the more special experiences in my charitable efforts and giving of my time. I also think winning the Most Caring Athlete award. I got that award one year and it was among other athletes and I was chosen and that was also really special to me because whenever you win an award ort whenever you are recognized among the rest of your peers and recognized above that, it is really a special thing. So I think those are the two most special experiences in terms of my extracurricular activities.

Emily Martin: Have you ever faced any racial barriers in route to your success? Or does race continue to cause any problems that you notice?

Chanda Rubin: Well I would have never really said I experience any barriers because of race. I have always felt that tennis specifically because it is an individual sport and because it is a sport that you basically are out there winning and loosing the match. I have always felt that it was on my racquet and in my hands and I didn't have to contend with the difficulties that you know come as the result of race or people trying to hold you back because of the color of your skin and all of that. So I have felt like tennis was a little bit removed from that when I was on the court, but definitely the sport itself there are still some barriers and have always been and maybe will be for a while. It is sort of a microcosm of society and of life and there are still barriers that exist in society so its going to exist in these other small areas. I think just being a player of color even just a sponsorship act. I think that is probably the biggest area where there are still barriers where there is not really equality. It is sort of subjective thing anyway. You know, as a player, different companies choose players who they feel that can best represent them or there products or company or what have you. So it is always going to be a little bit subjective, but I think that there are still some barriers in terms of players of color getting basically equal due based on what they have accomplished and it is still not there yet. It is still a ways away from that. I mean if your white and blond hair you are still going to get the bulk of the sponsorships that are out there at that time, regardless of your accomplishments. I think that needs to change and that should not be that way. Like I said it is a microcosm of society. So you know there is only so much that you can do in terms of that, but individually you just have to keep doing your part, you know stepping up when you need to. It still for me doesn't affect the way I go out everyday and try to represent myself and try to represent my sport, and job and all of that. It doesn't affect that at all.

Emily Martin: Well, thank you very much for your time I really appreciate it.

Chanda Rubin: You are very welcome and I wish you luck on your project.



World TeamTennis Stories from December 6, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central