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Stanford junior Hilary Barte
© Stanford Athletics
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Hilary Barte earned All-America honors in each of her first two years
© Stanford Athletics
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Hilary Barte prepares to hit a forehand
© Stanford Athletics
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Stanford junior Hilary Barte of Chatsworth, Calif., earned All-America honors in both singles and doubles her first two seasons as a Cardinal and was named the 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year. After an outstanding 2008-09 season in which she advanced to the singles round of 16 and the doubles final with Lindsay Burdette at the 2009 NCAA Championships and led Stanford with a 35-6 overall record while playing No. 1 singles, Barte has had an outstanding start to the 2009-10 season, as well, teaming with Burdette to capture the doubles title at last month's ITA National Indoor Championships. Barte, who is ranked fifth in singles and third in doubles in the ITA preseason rankings, recently took time to answer some questions for USTA.com.
USTA.com: Congratulations on a great fall and taking the doubles title with Lindsay Burdette at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoors! What were the highlights?
Hilary Barte: Thanks! Our semifinal match against UCLA was definitely a highlight. We were down 5-1 in the third set, saved a match point and went on to win the match 7-5 in the third. That was a bonding experience to say the least! Another highlight was the doubles final against Tennessee. They play a similar style of doubles as Lindsay and me, so it’s always a battle. Again, we saved a match point and went on to win the match 7-6 in the third. It was such an awesome feeling to enjoy the fruits of our labor. OH, also watching the Stanford football team beat Oregon after we won the doubles title is definitely an honorable mention.
USTA.com: Despite some heartbreaking losses at some pro events this summer, it seems the two of you entered the fall playing great, confident doubles. Was it helpful playing with Lindsay over the summer?
Hilary Barte: Definitely. Being able to play matches against such high-quality teams could only benefit us, though it was heartbreaking to lose those matches. After summer, we just jelled. In fact, there was a point in one of our matches during Regionals when, all of a sudden, I just knew where Lindsay was going to hit the ball. This is our third year playing together, so I feel like I can close my eyes and still know exactly where Lindsay will be and where she’ll hit the ball. It’s pretty cool.
USTA.com: You have always had a reputation as a leader on the court. Now in your junior year, how has your leadership role changed?
Hilary Barte: Since I’m not of the biggest stature, my physical presence does not necessarily demand respect. But I like to think that my character and the way I carry myself shine through. I believe in leading by example, so I try my best to make the best out of every situation. As an upperclassman, I always try to consider what is best for the team when making decisions, whether it’s about what song to play in the van or what drill to request in practice. Also, I think it’s really important to be on time.
USTA.com: As one of the top-ranked juniors in the nation, you were recruited by a number of top programs. Why did you select Stanford?
Hilary Barte: It was a difficult decision, but the combination of one of the most elite athletic programs in the country with the opportunity for a world-class education was definitely an opportunity prime for the picking. Plus, red is my favorite color.
USTA.com: Did you ever think about going pro right from juniors, or did you always know you wanted to go to college? Was that a hard decision for you to make?
Hilary Barte: I was actually set on taking a year off before going to college in order to test the pro waters. I traveled all over the world my senior year of high school playing tournaments, even spending six weeks in Germany grinding on the red clay. The year culminated in my playing in the singles qualies and doubles main at the US Open in August, after which, kind of ironically, I decided to go to college. Although the US Open experience was unbelievable, I realized that I needed a few more years to mature, both on and off the court, before I could compete with and maintain that elite level of tennis.
USTA.com: Any aspirations to play professionally once your collegiate career is over?
Hilary Barte: I love challenges, and I would love to see how my game measures up now. I like to think my tennis is like fine wine – it gets better with age.
USTA.com: You have two great coaches in Head Coach Lele Forood and Assistant Coach Frankie Brennan. What have you learned from each of them?
Hilary Barte: Lele is one of the most level-headed people I have ever met. The most important thing I have learned from her is to never panic. I asked her once if she ever panics when things (both in life and on the court) start piling up, and she answered, “No. Panic is being bombed.” Of course that’s kind of an exaggeration, but it helped to give me perspective when I get caught up in the heat of the battle. Frankie is a ball of energy and always fun to be around. He’s taught me to never take myself too seriously but to take care of business when it is time to be taken care of.
USTA.com: As a student-athlete, you don’t have a lot of free time, but when you get it, what do you like to do?
Hilary Barte: My days are literally hour-to-hour of one thing after the other, whether it’s practice or class or a meeting, so I really like to just sit and relax when I get free time. One of my favorite things ever is to sit around in a friend’s room with a few friends just talking and joking and enjoying it all.
USTA.com: According to the Stanford website, one of your hobbies is “beating your brother in Wii tennis.” Who wins on the real courts?
Hilary Barte: Haha! His serve is pretty big, but I manage to grind him down. I think the first time I beat my brother in tennis I may have reacted like I won Wimbledon. Seriously, though, I used to practice with him all the time (when I’m home I still do); he’s a big reason why I am the player (and person) that I am today.
USTA.com: What’s the best thing about college tennis and about Stanford?
Hilary Barte: The best thing about college tennis is the team environment. It sounds cliche, but the experience of playing on a team in our extremely individual sport has brought out some of my best tennis. It really is such a unique and memorable experience. I know I’ll be friends with the girls I was on a team with for the rest of my life. The best thing about Stanford is the people. It’s really humbling and inspiring to sit in the same classrooms as these people. I love that they are super intelligent and accomplished, yet so down to earth that you would never guess they are such a big deal.
USTA.com: What advice do you have for junior tennis players who want to play in college?
Hilary Barte: My advice would be to not look at college as the destination but more like a stepping stone to whatever you’d like to do next, whether it is to play tennis professionally or to find a profession. For me, college has been a great experience and growing process that has helped me get to my next level, both in tennis and in life.
Also, I think a lot of people see the decision to go to college as giving up on going pro. I know several people that I played juniors with who turned pro before college, and it is one of the biggest regrets of their lives. Basically, going to college gives you more options because you are securing a back-up plan should tennis not go as expected. However, the training situation is ideal because you have 7-8 default practice partners that are great to practice with and a physical training regimen all planned out for you. In my opinion, college tennis is what you make of it because everything is in place. It is up to you to take yourself to the next level.
Most importantly, I have never met a person, more specifically, any athletes, who have regretted going to college.