For the first time in her life, senior Nadia Abdala is stepping on the court without her older sister.
The sisters from Mexico no longer represent the maroon and gold as a tandem.
“It is going to be a challenge for me to be on my own, which is exciting,” Nadia said.
Her older sister, Laila Abdala, who graduated from ASU in May, provided the motivation.
“I started playing tennis because of her,” Nadia Abdala said.
Throughout her childhood and her career at ASU, Nadia said she could count on her sister as a partner on and off the court.
“It’s not like in golf or basketball where you can just shoot by yourself,” she said. “You need a person to hit with.”
For Nadia that was her older sister.
“We were always together,” she said. “I’m getting used to [being apart] now.”
ASU coach Sheila McInerney, who has coached both Nadia and Laila at ASU, spoke highly of the two athletes and how respectful they are on and off the court.
“They are just terrific kids,” she said.
After coming to Tempe in 2006 with trouble speaking English, Nadia said her sister’s experience at ASU helped her throughout her freshman year.
“It was a cushion for me having her here,” she said.
The pair’s drive to win was underlined with respect and care for one another.
At times, the duo would be very critical of each other while competing together.
Nadia said at one point during a match, the two ended up yelling at each other out of frustration.
She credits the yelling to the confidence they had in each other and how neither of them took anything personally on the court.
McInerney said the two began yelling at each other in Spanish several times during matches.
“It’s a little easier to get upset at your sister than your teammate,” the coach said.
Competing against each other was a different story.
“I wanted to win, but at the same time I didn’t want her to lose,” Nadia said. “We get along very well and have never been competitive.”
She did say that at times the two have placed wagers on who would end up doing the dishes during practice sets but that it was just in fun.
“It’s very weird we are not competitive at all, even as sisters,” she said.
The two were also were huge supporters of each other during singles matches.
“If I am struggling, she would definitely be at my court,” Nadia said.
Laila, who is currently back in Mexico taking a break from tennis, knew how to motivate Nadia to play better, even if that meant making her angry on the court.
“She knows how to yell at me to get me mad,” Nadia said. “I never take anything personal.”
After graduation, Nadia plans to continue playing tennis and to bring her sister along for the ride in a “coach” position.
Although her life-long tennis partner has departed, Nadia is happy to be on her own for the first time and ready to compete this season.
“I’m so motivated, and I have great teammates,” she said. “The support that I have from my sister, I am sure I can get from them.”
McInerney is happy to have a player like Nadia on the team and is confident in how much she has improved.
“She has shown tremendous leadership, and she cares deeply how the team does,” she said.
Nadia has not been able to play in the season thus far because of injury but is ready to get back on the court for the first time without Laila.
“I’m very excited for this year,” she said. “It’s really going to help me grow as a tennis player and as an individual.”
Reach the reporter at nathan.meacham@asu.edu.
