July 2010
10 (or so) questions with...Bethanie Mattek-Sands
By Steve Lange
Rochester Magazine: Where are you right now?
Bethanie Mattek-Sands: Birmingham, England. I’m playing in a grass warmup for Wimbledon.
RM: And you just lost a match to Maria Sharapova?
BM-S: Yes. It was tough conditions. We had a rain delay and I hurt my leg in the first game. I played well in the second set, though.
RM: I was hoping you’d call during the rain delay, because I had some great advice on how to beat Sharapova.
BM-S: I should have. What was it?
RM: OK. Don’t try to outhit her. Pressure her return and give her some pace. I’d move her around the court and then try to draw her into the net.
BM-S: Wow! That’s accurate for her. When I started playing aggressive I was actually returning her serve pretty well, and keeping her deep. She plays aggressive when she gets short balls. I did try a few drop shots. I was winning all my points when I was dictating the points.
RM: Also, I was going to tell you to wear an outfit that is the exact color of the ball to distract her. BM-S: That’s funny, because it was kind of hard to see the ball today. And I do have a yellow shirt with me so I’ll have to pull it out for my doubles match.
RM: You just got married last year.
BM-S: It’s been like a year and a half.
RM: Fill in these blanks from your wedding. You wore a [BLANK] dress.
BM-S: Black.
RM: OK. But I think this is the brand, or maybe the designer.
BM-S: Romona Keveza.
RM: And [BLANK] shoes.
BM-S: Marciano zebra print stilettos.
RM: Excellent.
RM: What position did your husband play when he played football at Albany [Division I-AA]?
BM-S: Long snapper.
RM: And what did he play on defense?
BM-S: He’s going to kill me. Isn’t the snapper the center?
RM: On defense they had him listed as a defensive tackle. So is he a good athlete?
BM-S: He’s really good. It’s funny because we kind of fight about who would win at each sport. I of course claim that I would win all of the racket sports. Basketball, believe it or not, I would beat him at. He’s a pretty bad hoops player, though he wouldn’t admit it to anybody. But football, hockey, stuff like that, he would win. He’s a little bigger than me.
RM: Ping pong?
BM-S: Ping pong I win.
RM: Best restaurant meal you’ve ever had in your life?
BM-S: Razz’s in Phoenix, Arizona. Razz is actually the name of the chef and you basically sit at the chef’s table, which is the one overlooking the pots and pans and him cooking. He would cook you appetizer portions of whatever you want, whatever he’s feeling. Ultimately you can get 11, 12, 13 plates, and he’ll go from seafood to ribs to everything and you see him making it right there. It’s an unbelievable experience.
RM: In one of your press photos, you appear to be posing exceptionally close to an alligator or crocodile.
BM-S: Yes, that was a little scary.
RM: Seriously? I was kidding. I thought that was Photoshopped.
BM-S: No, I’m kidding. That was Photoshopped. I had you going, though. I would pose with an alligator if the opportunity was there. I would definitely do it.
RM: You live in Florida now. You must see them sometimes.
BM-S: We see them in our backyard. They’re free-floating in the canals that connect all the communities. It’s pretty impossible not to see them, actually.
RM: According to your dad [Tim], two of your defining tennis moments came in Rochester. The first was when you were five and your dad tossed you a tennis ball and he says you almost knocked him down when you hit it back.
BM-S: I don’t really remember that first shot, if I have to be honest. But I guess it was pretty good, because my dad always tells that story.
RM: The second was when you were ten and met Monica Seles at the Rochester Athletic Club.
BM-S: Monica was in Rochester because her dad was at Mayo Clinic. She trained at the RAC while she was there. She had been one of my favorite tennis players and she really turned the game around. She grunted loud, hit hard, played aggressive. I kind of wanted to play like her. I was super shy then. I got to hit some balls with her. I think I said one word to her, and that was “thanks” after she autographed my racket cover. It was really cool. I still have the racket cover with the signature.
RM: Tim Butorac [the longtime John Marshall girls tennis coach and Eric’s dad] coached you for a few years.
BM-S: He was good. I want to say that he’s one of the reasons I have really good volleys. I just remember that’s something he always had me practice since I was little and I know not a lot of girls did, so I have to thank him for that.
RM: And you played mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2008 with Eric Butorac [another Rochester tennis pro].
BM-S: That was a blast. I went back up to Minnesota at the end of last year when he put on his charity event. We’re pretty good friends. We haven’t played since 2008. I’ve played mixed doubles with the Bryans [Bob and Mike] and he’s had his pretty consistent partner Chan [Yung-jan]. We’ll definitely hook up again, though.
RM: What was more exciting, playing with Butorac at Wimbledon or being on the cover of Rochester Magazine in June of 2008?
BM-S: Oh, boy. [Long pause.] I would have to say ... [long pause]. No pressure here. Hmmm. I’ve got to go with playing with Booty.
RM: What the?
BM-S: Well, they were both great ...
RM: Don’t try to suck up now.