Editor’s note: 10sBalls thanks Noah Rubin for giving us permission to repost these great stories. We wish him and this endeavor the best of luck. Great seeing Noah wearing K-Swiss and playing Solinco Strings.
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“It’s a nonstop battle. When you begin playing Juniors, you’re starting from the bottom. I worked my way to the top which made me really happy but I immediately realized I had to start it all over again. As soon as your junior career ends you have to begin to do the same thing as a professional. It’s not easy coming in playing girls older and more experienced than me. Physically and mentally, to go from constant success to losing early every week is difficult. It doesn’t matter what I am doing, whether I’m playing tennis, in school or any other activity, I want them to go as planned, because I’m super competitive. I thankfully have an incredible team by my side that helped me. I’m also so stubborn. If I say yes to something I will do whatever it takes to get what I want. I never thought that I should be playing another sport. I just took my chance with tennis and working everyday to achieve my dream. I never look forward, I always just live in the moment with what I have now. When I started to playing pro tennis, reaching top 100 for even one day was a dream. I was happy for about one week but then I was trying to set up new goals. After getting into the top 100 you begin to realize that it’s actually the beginning of the journey to the top 10. Tennis doesn’t allow much time to enjoy. For me, it’s like when you get hungrier after eating a little food, it’s the same for me in tennis. If I have a great result it gives me the power to want more or do even better. I never stop or relax. Even if I get to the top, I wouldn’t want to lose my position. All the girls are out to steal your spot. You have to continue working, because very little of it is based on luck. No one ‘deserves’ anything. It gets extremely tough when you’re playing tournaments week after week and they go right into each other. Sometimes you just need a few days to breathe and refresh the mind. If you want to do your best you have got to enjoy your work. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, playing tennis, business or whatever. If you love your job, you’re going to achieve more than you ever thought.” – Anastasia Potapova
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