Quick Facts

• School: Usc
• Year Graduated: 2015
• Current Job: Professional Tennis Player, WTA #64 (April 1st 2020) Doubles

Bio

The Los Angeles native, Sabrina Santamaria is an incredibly accomplished tennis player. The Trojan won the 2013 NCAA doubles national championship and led her team to two Final Four team appearances.

In professional tennis, Santamaria is currently ranked top 70 in the world in doubles and was ranked as high as #384 in the world in singles.

Sabs is one of the rare cool Trojans we know (go bruins…) and we hope you enjoy her interview. Let’s get to it!

7 Questions With Sabrina Santamaria

#1 What was your recruiting/school selection process like?

My college recruiting process was a bit unorthodox– I committed to USC my sophomore year of high school. Growing up in Los Angeles and being first-generation American to immigrant parents, really made me want to stay close to home for college. Throughout my junior tennis years, it was between UCLA and USC mostly, and I thought I looked better in red, so I chose USC (just kidding). Both were great programs, but I knew the coaches much better at USC, and I had some of my best friends already there on the team, so I knew the team chemistry would be unmatched. During my sophomore year of high school, I had always reached out to the coaches and demonstrated how much I wanted to be a Trojan– I went to a lot of their matches at Marks Stadium and showed a ton of support for the program. That summer, the USC Assistant coach (West Nott), happened to be our Fed Cup coach for team Southern California at a national competition in San Francisco, and I told him I was ready to be a Trojan! Head Coach Richard Gallien offered me a scholarship by the end of the week, and to this day, I’m so thankful they took a chance on the kid from Griffith Park.

#2 What was your favorite moment/story/aspect of college?

I’ve had a plethora of favorite memories from college– making the Final Four twice, winning the NCAA doubles championship with my best friend, the endless dance parties and sleepovers with my teammates, it’s really difficult to pick my absolute favorite. But, I will say tearing my ACL during my junior year was one of my favorite memories (what??). Initially, I was devastated, bed-ridden while my teammates traveled without me, and questioned whether I could reach my peak playing potential once again. I used these months for self-reflection, focused on my studies (I changed majors during this time), went outside of my comfort zone and made an effort to meet people that weren’t athletes (it’s quite easy to stick within the athlete bubble). It was an amazing time to immerse myself in extracurriculars that didn’t involve sports or tennis– and I even met my fiancé! By the luck of the draw, I met Niklas a month after my surgery, while he was studying abroad at USC for the semester. From our first date on April 16th, 2014 to now being engaged with big plans for the future, tearing my ACL has truly been a blessing in disguise.

#3 How did college tennis prepare you for the rest of your career/life?

College tennis is the ultimate juggling act– with balancing academics, excelling on the court individually and with your team, and making time for a social life and family, it’s really not easy. College tennis has enabled me to become my own coach on tour, my own agent, and essentially my own business. It has taught me to be relentless, flexible, adaptable, and persevere through difficulties (as cliché as that sounds)– because there are no shortcuts in college tennis. During my time in college, I really took it upon myself to put in the work with extra training sessions, and especially used the weekends to go home and workout with my Dad (who’s my coach)– utilizing my time wisely and efficiently was the ultimate factor that propelled me to success. After graduating in 2015, I’ve gained skills in being a team leader and builder, strengthening my work ethic, and being versatile for any adversity that comes my way. College tennis has not only prepared me for professional tennis, but more importantly for my post-tennis career.

#4 A lot of juniors and parents worry that tennis will suffer because of the academic demands of college. What advice would you give an 18-year old in terms of balancing academics and tennis?

It’s tough to balance academics and tennis, but if you want to succeed, it’s so important to manage your time and have a good understanding of your own priorities. What might work for your teammate, might not work for you, so it’s really important to understand which routines and time management styles work best for you. Personally, I was never the type to be able to crush an essay in one night– I needed at least 3-4 days, but some people are able to succeed that way. I would advise 18-year olds to utilize every resource they can find, whether it be counseling, tutoring, or mentors, within their respective majors to help on the academic side. For the athletics side, utilize your advisors, coaches and teammates for advice as they’ve all been through it and are eager to help. Know that you’re never alone, your university community is there for you, don’t sweat the small stuff, and control things that are in your control.

#5 Another thing we see parents worrying about is how the social component of college will affect their kids tennis. What would you tell an 18-year old going to college in regards to having fun without compromising their tennis/academics?

To manage a social life coupled with academics and athletics, I think it’s really important to prioritize your goals and ambitions. Do you want to be an NCAA champion this season? Do you want to turn pro? Are you trying to move up in the lineup? When you have clear goals in mind, it becomes easier to prioritize your academics, athletics, and social life. With priorities and time management, you can certainly have a thriving social life. And it’s not all or nothing– you can still go out with your friends on a Friday night and have a good practice session on Saturday afternoon. The social component that comes with the college environment is unavoidable, and it’s really up to you in how you make those social decisions. It’s all about balance!

#6 Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently if you were starting college again today?

In hindsight, there’s not a whole lot that I would change about my college experience– I had a fantastic four years at USC. But I wish I took more time in understanding different career paths and focusing on self-growth earlier in my college career. I became super unhappy studying Human Biology in my first two years, because I thought a path in kinesiology was for me, simply because I had an athletic background. I changed my major during my junior year to International Relations, which suited me much better. With this change, I only had to stay an extra fall semester at SC, which was very manageable. If I had realized it sooner though, I probably could have completed a Master’s as well, but everything is more clearer in hindsight. And perhaps going through that change was all part of my journey and personal growth.

#7 In your case, why did you think that college tennis was a good option as opposed to going directly to the pro tour?

College tennis was an excellent option for me, instead of turning pro right out of high school. I have always wanted to go to college and compete on a team, because I find that I thrive in team environments and team competitions. College tennis has brought so many invaluable experiences to my life, and I would absolutely go to college and play for USC again if I could.
With regards to tennis, I was able to improve my mental strength, fitness, and developed intangible skills (they don’t call me Lob City for nothing), which has prepared me to succeed on the pro tour. Most importantly, I think college tennis allows you the time and resources to develop the mental aspect of the game and one’s maturity. The valuable skills you gain from college are unparalleled– learning how to be a team leader and builder, developing mental and physical strength, and persevering through the juggling act of being a student-athlete, truly prepares you for life.