Summer Brings Success for Elk Grove Tennis Player

Yasmin Schnack has enjoyed a very good summer.

It started when the Elk Grove tennis standout played her first season for the Sacramento Capitals on the World Team Tennis circuit.  It got better when she paired up with doubles partner and Capitals teammate Vania King, a former Wimbledon doubles champion, while leading the team to the WTT Western Conference finals on July 23.

So good, in fact, that Schnack was a finalist for WTT Rookie of the Year after breaking into the top five in women’s doubles.

“The entire experience was great,” said Schnack, speaking by phone from Florida where she was training with King.  “I was just surrounded by great, extraordinary players and athletes.  I feel like just in the three weeks playing with the Capitals, I learned so much and my game improved by being around them and watching them.”

Schnack, who often towers over her opponents at 5'10", had plenty of experience before playing her first season of World Team Tennis.  Already a successful collegiate tennis player, she won the Pac-10 women’s singles and doubles titles in 2010 as a senior at UCLA.  She was also named a three-time All-American by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. 

Schnack, who said she first dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player when she was 12, chose an unusual route to success.  Growing up in Elk Grove, she was homeschooled in order to concentrate on tennis.  That meant skipping high school sports to compete in national and international tournaments before turning 18, including junior Grand Slam events like the U.S. Open.

Her coach, Rich Andrews, said that Schnack’s focus never wavered despite her unorthodox schedule.

“Every time she comes to the court, it’s amazing—she’s a coach’s dream,” said Andrews.  “She comes to the court positive, ready to work hard and ready to give 100 percent throughout practice.”

Maintaining that work ethic will be even more critical for Schnack as she adjusts to being a full-time professional tennis player.  Though the Capitals’ season is finished, the Elk Grove star has a busy schedule for the rest of the year.  Currently ranked 226th by the Women’s Tennis Association in women’s doubles, Schnack hopes to qualify for the U.S. Open by playing tournaments next month in Vancouver and New York.

Your doubles partner on the Capitals was Vania King, who won both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon women’s doubles titles in 2010.  How valuable has it been to play with someone that successful?

It’s just been a great learning experience for me.  She has achieved so much in her life.  She’s a year younger than me and her experience level is off the charts.  She’s helped me so much; especially on my returns, she’s like, ‘More spin, more spin!’  There are just little things that she would be able to see and tell me to improve in my game.

How did you first get the chance to play for the Capitals?

It was all due in part to Vania.  She played for the Capitals last year.  I told her that I’d been watching the Capitals play for six or seven years now and it would be amazing if I got the opportunity. I felt that I had good credentials after being at UCLA, where I did well at the NCAA championships.  Also, being from a [college] team, the Capitals liked that I had team experience.

This season on the Capitals, you’ve played against Martina Hingis and Serena Williams in both women’s singles and doubles matches.  Was it intimidating to face these former No. 1 players?

I was so nervous.  Even though I did get my butt kicked, I still had so much fun.  I got to talk to both of them and just tell them it’s an honor for me to meet them.  They were really cool – down to earth, easy to talk to, and really encouraging as well.

Before attending UCLA, you had been home schooled since sixth grade.  Was it a tough adjustment to arrive at a large school like UCLA after attending home school?

It really wasn’t.  College is kind of similar to home school in that you do a lot of the work yourself.  My teammates made it really easy.  They were really helpful and supportive. 

Do you think that skipping high school sports had a noticeable impact on your tennis game?

Honestly, if you’re playing at the national, international and professional level, it holds more weight than high school tennis.  I knew that I would miss out on the social and fun aspects of high school tennis, but I would gain much more by home schooling, having time to travel and making my own schedule.

What was the most difficult career decision that you ever had to make?

When I was probably about 15 or 16, that’s when I had to make a decision between going professional or going to [college].  You never know what can happen: a lot of girls go on tour and they get injured and they’re done with tennis.  I felt that I should finish my four years in college and get a bachelor’s degree.  That way if something happens, I do have a backup.

Last question: How long until we see you in the finals at Wimbledon? 

(Laughs.) Oh man, you never know what could happen.  If you just do well in a few tournaments, your ranking can rocket up there.  I’d like to say in 2012, you’ll see me playing in Wimbledon, but you never know.