Anna Bright

You were a tennis player at Cal Berkeley. Compare the pressure of tennis and pickleball.

In pickleball there is more pressure on every point. The game is over quicker. You have to start fast. For me, it’s a bigger stage than college so there is more pressure.

How do you prepare to “start fast”?

I definitely want a good warm-up. I get into a competitive head space. And I respect my opponents a lot.

What do you think about on game point?

I don’t think any differently than other points. Get to the kitchen line.

Would you teach young players a two-handed backhand?

Yes, it gives you more options. It gives more power to the women’s game. A two-handed backhand gives you greater control and more deception off the bounce.

Numerous tennis players are coming into pickleball. What characteristics will make some more successful than others?

There are a lot of intangibles. Good wrist flexion. Good hands. Soft hands. Good doubles instincts. The wrist is important in pickleball. I was a better doubles player than singles player in tennis. I was ranked #12 in doubles.

What did you learn from your college tennis coach?

My dad was my tennis coach all my life until college. In college, I learned a lot about the importance of compromising, about growing up, and adjusting.

What do you pack in your suitcase that would surprise me?

A teddy bear.

If you could hike any trail in the world, which one would you choose?

I’m burned out now, but maybe El Camino de Santiago.

What is your idea of a romantic date?

A picnic.

Do you follow a special diet?

I was vegan in college; I am a vegetarian now for ethical reasons, for animals and for the environment.

What is your favorite movie?

“Love, Rosie.”

What book has made a difference in your life?

“Eragon” by Christopher Paolini. I read it in the third grade, and it sparked a love of reading.

Who is the most interesting person you’d like to meet?

It would be cool to meet the people who are pulling the pickleball strings.

Do you have siblings?

I have two younger sisters. They played tennis until they were 12 then stopped. They don’t play pickleball.

If you were Czarina and could change the world, what would you do?

I would tax billionaires heavily and would implement programs to end hunger. I would raise salaries of government employees. I would have a system more like Scandinavia’s where teachers and policemen are well-paid, and those jobs are sought after.

What’s your favorite city?

Seattle because the air is cleaner, it is close to nature, and the people are active.

Do you believe in forgiveness?

Yes, I think you should be forgiving. There is a difference in forgiving and forgetting. Forgiveness gives you peace.

What advice would you give your 10-year-old self?

I believe the butterfly effect is a real thing. I have had some hard times, but I would not change things. I have had happy times too. I would observe and cheer from afar. I would not change a thing.  •