Flushing Meadows, NY – Playing in the US Open can be risky business, but not for Allison, since Riske is her last name.
Another young American in the third round, the 23 year-old Pittsburgh native beat 28 seed Mona Barthel, 6-4 6-2 to make a name for herself at the Open.
“I’m definitely excited,” she said. “I mean, being in the clouds, I’m not really in the clouds because, I mean, I only won a couple matches. Obviously, you know, I came here to do more than that.
“It’s definitely exciting. I’m looking forward to being here for another day.”
Oh she will be with another toughie against No 7 seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, but she knows you play the draw you are given.
“That’s probably the worst thing I could think, you know, is that it’s a good draw,” Riske said. “There’s no good draw. You can draw a wild card, and those players are just as good as everyone else.”
She has been in New York for a few times now. Riske lost in the qualifier last year, but now in the main draw, she may stick around and enjoy the city, something she usually doesn’t do.
“No, there’s no hanging around once I’m done,” she said. “I go home. Yeah, that’s how it goes.”
And home to Pittsburgh isn’t the worst thing is the world. The self proclaimed sports fan likes the Steelers and Penguins, but isn’t a big baseball fan (sorry Pirates).
But before the football season starts, she still has some tennis to play. And now, she feels at home.
“I think this is the first year I’ve really felt comfortable at the US Open,” she said. “It’s been pretty overwhelming before for me. I think now I just feel really comfortable. I feel great with my game.
“I just feel good with where I’m at. I feel like I matured a lot. I’m just really enjoying it. I think the electricity surrounding the Open is not comparable. Yeah, the fans are amazing. I mean, I think I heard my name like a hundred times today, so it was pretty cool.”
No Riske there.
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