Irina Falconi burst into the Top 100 in 2011 – one year after turning pro – on the back of semifinal appearances in Washington D.C., and Vancouver and a surprise run to the third round of the US Open.
Since then, the 27-year-old has gone on to compete in tournaments all around the world, serving as a role model to younger players and a patriotic ambassador bursting with pride for American tennis. Ecuador-born and Manhattan-raised, Falconi credits her love of the game to the public courts of New York City, where she would compete against local players.
The outgoing American, who now lives in Florida, recently took the time to sit down with USOpen.org and talk all things tennis, revisiting her hometown roots and which of her fellow U.S. players to watch out for at the 2017 US Open.
USOpen.org: How does it feel to be back in New York?
Irina Falconi: To be honest, it feels kind of bittersweet because I lost (in the first round of qualifying), but other than that, it’s a great city. I’m staying five minutes away which is nice, because I have access to the facilities so quickly. It really is home. A big part of me was brought up here, so it has a huge part in my life, in my heart.
USOpen.org: What kinds of things do you like to do when you’re in town?
Falconi: My best friend lives here, and pretty much wherever she tells me is a good spot to eat, I’m going there. I have two other friends that take us to the nicest places as well. So pretty much my boyfriend and I just tag along and go eat and drink wherever our friends tell us to go.
USOpen.org: You picked up the game of tennis on the public courts at Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan, less than 20 miles away from US Open grounds. Ever return to the local courts where your love of the game blossomed?
Falconi: Every year I try and go back and meet up with all the people that pretty much raised me. There were a few people that came out to my match [Tuesday] that are all still living in Inwood and still hitting there, so it definitely filled my heart to know a bunch of fans and friends that came out and still live there. I love to go back whenever I can.
USOpen.org: You’ve been playing at the Open since 2009. What’s your favorite US Open memory?
Falconi: I would have to say 2011 beating [Dominika] Cibulková on Arthur Ashe. I had no idea I was going to be playing on Arthur Ashe, and I was actually chilling out, just relaxing on a couch. I was fifth on, I think the second or third match was on and I had my feet up and everything. And all of a sudden one of the WTA communications staff came up to me. He was on his walkie [talkie] and was like “I have her right here – send her down.” And I go downstairs to the locker room, and another WTA staff comes up to me and she’s like, “So, Venus pulled out.” And I’m thinking, how does this affect me in any way possible? And she said, “Oh, they need an American to play on Center Court,” and I was so shocked at that moment. I said, “Center Court? You mean like, Ashe?” And she said, “Yeah, and Andy’s [Roddick] up two sets to love right now so you’re next on.” I started hyperventilating so my coach had to calm me down. I just remember going on the court.
I had a super-epic match point. For sure, one of my favorite memories.
USOpen.org: Speaking about that moment: Afterward, you wrapped an American flag around your shoulders to celebrate your win. Do you still have that flag? If so, do you keep it anywhere special?
Falconi: Yes, I still have that flag, and I do keep it somewhere special. It’s at my parent’s place. It’s next to my Pan Am [Games] gold medal and silver medal.
USOpen.org: Your pride for American tennis makes you an ideal choice for your current role as chair for Team USA’s American player council. How did you get involved in the council, and what do your duties as chair entail?
Falconi: [Player Development General Manager] Martin Blackman and a lot of the USTA staff thought it would be a good idea to come up with a council where the players have more of a voice. I was pretty much nominated. I didn’t know I was getting nominated, and then I see my name and I was like, “Oh, OK, here we go!” I think the fact that I was also a part of the WTA board – that had something to do with it.
So I got nominated. I attend meetings, and whenever I get, you know, a player comes up to me and talks to me, “Hey, I think we should do this, I think we should do this, I think we should do this.” I’m pretty much just a messenger. I’m going up to [Pro Tennis Chief Executive] Stacey [Allaster] and Martin, all of them, and just saying, “OK, this is the feedback I’m getting. What can you do about it?”
So I’m constantly delivering, whether it’s good news or it’s bad news. I’m constantly telling the girls what the USTA is working on, and constantly telling the USTA what the girls are needing.
USOpen.org: Can you talk a bit about the state of American tennis today and what you think has led to the rise of the recent American success?
Falconi: Competition is super strong and there’s just a lot of good players. I think there’s just so much opportunity for girls to play tennis in the U.S., and the ability to go to college. Whether or not they want to go to college or decide to turn pro, there’s just a lot of opportunity there, and we have so many girls that are on the rise, cementing themselves as the Top 100, Top 50. I think we’re all just pushing each other. The amount of young players that are coming up is definitely pushing the older players to play harder, play more.
USOpen.org: Who do you think are some of your fellow compatriots to watch out for this year?
Falconi: I know Maddy [Madison] Keys is doing a wonderful job coming back from injury. She won Stanford and has just been killing it as of late. Sloane Stephens is back in the game, she’s been playing great. I know CoCo [Vandeweghe], Shelby [Rogers], Alison [Riske], Lauren [Davis] – pretty much all the girls in the Top 100 have been doing such a great job staying put and keeping that ranking up in that Top 100 slot.
There’s a few girls that are young and coming up. I know [Amanda] Anisimova is one of them. She’s 15 and she’s twice my height. She’s got raw talent that you can’t teach and brute strength that I’ll never have. I know CiCi Bellis has been playing great. She may be seeded at this tournament, which is huge for her. There’s just so many girls that are either back or playing well. I know Grace Min just won a $60,000 event, which is great for her. There’s just, gosh, I can’t even name them all. There’s just a lot of girls who already made their mark and continue to make their mark.
USOpen.org: Anyone on the men’s side you would tell people to watch out for?
Falconi: I know Jared Donaldson’s been playing really well. Frances Tiafoe is coming up, Bjorn Fratangelo, Mitchell Kreuger won a few matches in Cincinnati. He’s been doing well. John Isner’s killing it. He’s a fellow college player. Steve Johnson’s another one. I know Jack Sock’s playing well. Gosh, they’re all making a splash. Especially during the American summer hard-court series. They’re definitely doing so well.
USOpen.org: What’s next for you?
Falconi: I am waiting on a doubles wild card to see if I can play with Kristie Ahn, so just waiting for that. And if not I’ll go home and just train before I go to Quebec City and finish out the year strong and healthy, most importantly.
