When I interviewed Alison Riske last year at the U.S. Open for a Tennis Recruiting
profile (now available in its entirety only to Recruiting Advantage members), she mentioned writing as one of her favorite subjects in school. The recently named
Bill Talbert Sportsmanship award winner got an opportunity to put that creative writing talent to use this weekend in Moscow, when she kept a
diary of her experience as a "Future Fed Cupper," during the semifinal tie.
The U.S. was beaten by Russia 3-2, with the final two matches dead rubbers, but from Riske's charming posts, it sounds as if it was anything but a loss for those making the trip. Although Riske is not quite as off-the-wall as Dmitry Tursunov, the resident ATP blogger, the copious use of exclamation points and the tale of harrowing foreign car rides brings to mind his
famous Estoril blog of two years ago. (For the right chronology, start at the bottom and work up.) Coco Vandeweghe was also in Moscow as a hitting partner, but she managed just two posts, in contrast to Riske's eight.
I will be posting a wrap on the major college conference tournament results tomorrow.