Ashley Harkleroad is an American former professional tennis player, who reached a career-high ranking in singles of No. 39 in 2003. After retiring from tennis, she gave birth to two beautiful children.
Join us as Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness talks to Ashley about life as and after being a professional tennis player.
Namita Nayyar:
Being introduced to tennis at four, when were you first introduced to the larger world of tennis?
Ashley Harkleroad:
I was first introduced to the tennis world at 9 years old when my parents took to me to a tournament called the Family Circle Cup in Hilton Head, SC. I saw Amanda Coetzer play and I was instantly a fan! Later in life when I was 17 I made it to the semi finals in singles and doubles at the Family Circle Cup beating two top 10 players AND Amanda Coetzer and I are very good “mommy” friends now, our kids have playdates and Amanda and I like to hike together. How Ironic?!
Namita Nayyar:
Having won so many tournaments and championships, which victory do you think is closest to your heart?
Ashley Harkleroad:
Actually the Victory that stands out the most would be Fed Cup in 2005 when I help defeat Germany in front of my home crowd and country. I remember I clinched the win after beating Sabine Lisicki and our coach Zina Garrison handed me the American Flag and I ran around the court while the flag blew in the wind in true celebratory style while the crowd cheered my name. Very cool moment!
Namita Nayyar:
Advice for tennis beginners?
Ashley Harkleroad:
Well, I have two of my very own tennis beginners. My son is 9 and just won his first tennis tournament and my daughter is 7. My advice for them is number one have fun! It sounds cliché but if you are not having fun then its a waste of time in the end. Number two (I get tougher) always have a good attitude. These two go hand in hand because obviously if your not having fun you”ll probably have a crappy attitude. Number three, be patient with yourself. Tennis is a very intense technical sport to learn and it takes many many years to perfect it, and even then you will never fully perfect it, unless of course if your name is Roger Federer!
Full Interview Continued On Next Page
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All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Being a mother of two, how do you like to spend most of your day now?
Ashley Harkleroad:
I am the type of mom that enjoys being active with my kids rather than sitting around watching TV or reading all day. I have very physical kids and I noticed the more tired they are, night after a long day of outdoor activities then they sleep better! Added plus, I’m always staying fit and burning calories therefor we all are feeling good and sleeping well!
Namita Nayyar:
A healthy breakfast for would look like?
Ashley Harkleroad:
A healthy breakfast is a high protein breakfast. I enjoy carbs but I have learned I like to indulge a little every night with a small dessert, therefore during the day I keep it light with as little carbs as possible.
Namita Nayyar:
Your biggest tennis inspiration?
Ashley Harkleroad:
Kim Clijsters was always my biggest inspiration. I loved her aggressive game style, I love her attitude. She was always the nicest girl on tour. in the end she retired then came back after having her daughter and won the US OPEN. Such an inspiration to be able to come back after having a baby and winning a grand slam. I’m mostly inspired by how well she balanced motherhood and being a sportswomen.
Namita Nayyar:
Having retired from professional tennis, what routine do you follow to stay fit & strong?
Ashley Harkleroad:
I stay fit these days by cross training. I enjoy a little bit of this and that. Two of my main passions are hiking. I love hiking, I love being outdoors and southern California has some of the most beautiful hiking trails. The other obsession I love doing and have always enjoyed (I even did a teaching train course) is Bikram yoga. Not affiliated with the man Bikram anymore. Bikram is a super intense detox yoga workout and when I finish I feel like a million bucks!!!!
Namita Nayyar:
5 Favorite exercises that are a must in your workout routine.
Ashley Harkleroad:
My top 5 favorites to keep it simple is- Lunges! Front lunges for legs and butt. Side lunges for inner and outer legs. 100 situps a day. Pushups to work the arms, and I am a big believer of jumping rope. Rope jumping is so old school but you can burn SO many calories in a short amount of time and you don’t need a gym to do it. Order a rope on Amazon and find an even level place to jump and you’ll be hooked!
Namita Nayyar:
What does Women Fitness mean to you? Why health needs to be a priority?
Ashley Harkleroad:
Women Fitness means women can come together to celebrate each individual female body. We all have our insecurities but coming together as females and sharing tips and tricks that not only help us for benefit the female mind and body is a very inspiring yet comforting place. Our society right now is all about Female Power and women supporting women and Women Fitness embodies everything about that for me.
Namita Nayyar:
Biggest challenges you faced after retiring from the sport? Presently what sports are you engaged in?
Ashley Harkleroad:
My biggest challenge after retiring was the transition to “normal life” and waking up in the morning and realizing its time to make new priorities and what are those new priorities going to be on a daily bases. Waking up and realizing I don’t have to tie up my tennis shoes and hit the ball, I can enjoy other things and what are those “other” things I enjoy. Just realizing who I am without tennis involved was definitely a challenge I wasn’t necessarily expecting and it took time to make that transition. It took to make a new life with new friends who had no idea what my life was before my new normal.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you wish to give back to the society & your supporters?
Ashley Harkleroad:
I love to give back through fundraising whether is be for my kids school or volunteering for the special Olympics or just through giving advice or health, fitness and beauty tips. I’m in the process of starting my own blog which I’ll be talking about everything involving health, mommyhood, workouts, beauty products, fashion etc. Giving back does the body good!
Namita Nayyar:
5 things that are always in your gym bag?
Ashley Harkleroad:
5 things that are always in my gym bag are makeup removing pads by Neutrogena, a jump rope of course, ankle weights, a hairbrush and ponytail holder, and a pair of hiking shoes just in case I have a last minute change of routine and instead of a yoga class or the gym I feel like taking a hike and breath the fresh air!
Namita Nayyar:
Being a self-confessed shoe lover, share with us your top 3 picks.
Ashley Harkleroad:
My top three picks right now are…Gucci, I love their sneakers. Christian Louboutin because like Cardi B says you gotta have those red bottoms bloody shoes, and Aquazzura pumps they are classy with an edge!
Namita Nayyar:
Your Playboy cover has been so talked about, share with us your experience doing it? Which magazine’s cover would you like to grace now?
Ashley Harkleroad:
My playboy cover was a funny topic in my family because I have never been a modest person when it comes to being naked. As a child I would be half naked all the time. It was freeing and still is. Once I became a women and all the different emotions that came along with that process accrued I started to have insecurities. I over came an eating disorder at 19 and after 3 months of intense therapy I learned a lot about myself and learned how to embrace all the beautiful flaws that make us who we are. When playboy ask me to be on the cover I thought it was a huge honor and that little girl inside of me with no inhibitions couldn’t wait to grace the cover with her new found confidence and rock solid (yet feminine) athletic body in tow!!! I would love to one day grace another cover of a health and fitness magazine or perhaps another go with Playboy!
Namita Nayyar:
Message for Women Fitness on our 19th Anniversary?
Ashley Harkleroad:
Congratulations Women Fitness for your 19th year of encouraging women around the world to stay fit and healthy and reminding us how badass we really are!
Follow Ashley’s journey on:
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http:// www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness