East Meets West: Venise Chan Interviews Sarah Ansboury
Welcome to third edition of East Meets West, where Hong Kong-based pickleball pro Venise Chan asks questions to America-based pickleball pros. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out part one with Kyle Yates here and part two with Irina Tereschenko here in this East Meets West series.
Venise Chan’s doubles pro debut was with former pickleball champion Sarah Ansboury at the LA Takeya Showcase. And between games, Venise had a chance to ask Sarah some pickleball questions.
Venise Chan: What tips would you give me after partnering with me in my first pro pickleball tournament? How do you think I can improve and what tips do you have for other tennis players who want to transition to pickleball?
Sarah Ansboury: The most important thing for tennis players is learning the soft game of how to dink as well as how to get your partners involved in the game. The footwork is very different from tennis in some ways. Moving a lot less, keeping in balance when striking the ball and learning to use your hands more. Most people don’t really understand how to create opportunity using a dink but once you get that side it’s a whole different world.
Venise Chan: As a former champion, the fields of play become stronger and stronger each year, what do you think it takes for you to become a champion again? Or do you only focus on coaching mainly now?
Sarah Ansboury: I think about this sometimes. When I first started Pickleball, my main focus was playing Pickleball. As much as I love the game, I have turned my focus into the growth of Pickleball. Helping facilities and coaches get going in the sport. It’s hard for me to really spend the time I need to practice like I once could. Great players are so important to the growth of this sport but we need Pickleball to grow in other countries for us as players to really be successful in this sport.
Venise Chan: How do you handle a bad day/loss in pickleball?
Sarah Ansboury: I do get frustrated and probably more frustrated with myself because I know I can play better. This is where I do get frustrated — that I can’t practice and commit to playing Pickleball the way I have been able to in the past. I have always come from a place where I need to figure out why I didn’t play my best and what I can do better.
Venise Chan: Do you feel the same pressure when you play a match in tennis vs. a game in pickleball?
Sarah Ansboury: The pressure is different for sure. I feel more pressure in Pickleball probably. It’s not bad pressure but it’s a different arena than I was in for tennis.
Venise Chan: Any tips on how you think pickleball in Hong Kong and Asia can grow?
Sarah Ansboury: It’s about getting tennis facilities and any other types involved in the sport. We need kids playing and adults playing. Coming to the US to experience how we play is a huge asset but if not, it’s about understanding the game how we play. Most people outside of the US start playing small tennis and then learning how to utilize the non-volley zone and the strategies we have in the soft game.
Venise Chan: Any plans for you to teach and play in tournaments in Asia in 2022/2023?
Sarah Ansboury: I haven’t really looked at that schedule but I am definitely open to it!
Venise Chan: Thank you, Sarah, for your time. Perhaps we all need to learn from Sarah’s perspective. To be selfless by putting the love and growth of this sport before any personal benefit or success as an individual player. To play a part in the success of building the sport at a high level. Success in Pickleball can only come when all countries work hard to collaborate and make it happen.
