Kristie Ahn

Name: Kristie Ahn (Follow her on Instagram)
Any Nicknames: K-Ahn
Hometown: Grew up in Upper Saddle River, NJ...currently residing in Englewood Cliffs, NJ
When did you start playing tennis? 8 years old
How long have you been on tour? 5 years

Tell us a bit about your tennis history: Really wasn’t anything special...grew up playing in a park. Went to public school till high school - switched to private halfway thru but still went to class. Got to play the US Open at 16. Played at Stanford for 4 years, been playing pro since.

Describe your game style: Aggressive baseliner

List of Accomplishments:

• 2008 US Open: youngest player in main draw

• Multiple wins over former Grand Slam champs

• Reached round of 16 at 2019 US Open as a wildcard

Gear Breakdown:
Racquet: Babolat Pure Strike 98
Shoes: ASICS Court FF 2
Strings: Luxilon Alu Power / Luxilon Element
Apparel: Lacoste

Tennis Questions:
Favorite shot to hit: Forehand
Tennis idol(s): Andre Agassi / Kim Clijsters
Any superstitions: Nope
Favorite Tournament: Stanford (RIP)
Most memorable win: Ostapenko US Open 2019
Pre match meal: Plain pasta with salt and some red pepper flakes
Favorite part about being a pro tennis player: My co-workers
Worst part about being a pro tennis player: Traveling
If you could re-do one match, which would it be and why? Wimby 2019 against Sevastova - Didn’t allow myself to enjoy the moment

Rapid Fire Questions:
Favorite pizza toppings: Plain or pepperoni
Favorite dessert: Dairy-free ice cream
Celebrity crush: Jason Sudeikis
Favorite musical artist: Bastille
Go-to karaoke song: Welcome to the Black Parade
Biggest pet peeve: People who stop in the middle of walkways
Top 3 most used apps on your phone: TikTok, Reddit, Twitter
Celebrity doubles partner: Mo Salah
If you could have 1 superpower: Flying
Favorite city to visit: Brisbane
Tell us your favorite joke: What’s a Korean robot’s favorite food? Bee-beep-bop
Describe your perfect day off: Food and music only.

Would You Rather:
Win a grand slam or be ranked #1? Grand slam
Return or serve first? Return
Forehand or backhand? Forehand
Crosscourt or down the line? Crosscourt
Up at net or at the baseline? Baseline
Coffee or tea? COFFEE
Window or aisle seat? Aisle

Advice for Players Just Starting Out:
Don’t take yourself too seriously.