“All for the glory of God” is a common phrase to find among athletes when things are going right, but how many do you see living this out when things go wrong? For women’s tennis player Ainslie Robinson, this phrase is who she is. It is what drives her on the court and how she shapes her game.
“I never want someone to know whether I won or lost when I come off the court,” said Robinson.
She uses the simple things to show others her love for Christ and His kingdom. Whether that be looking her opponent in the eye when she shakes their hand at the end of a match or having a servant heart through matches and practice, she puts her mind to do whatever she can to point back to God. According to her teammates, once Ainslie sets her mind to something, nothing is going to stop her.
While faith is the biggest thing that shapes who Ainslie is, family comes in a close second. She has three older siblings who have been playing tennis as long as she can remember. “[Tennis] became a family thing,” she says. “My parents always joked that they had four kids so we could play doubles.”
Over the years, Ainslie’s parents and siblings have always pushed her to be her best. Even when she did not reach where she wanted to be, they were there to support and stabilize her again so she could keep pushing forward. Through tennis, choosing a college,and faith, Ainslie’s family has always been there to help her make the best possible decision.
Robinson’s team also shapes her life. When asked about her goals for her tennis career, Ainslie responded, “I want to help build the Northwestern tennis program and build a foundation for future players.” While she hopes to improve personally, she is clearly focused on the future of the program rather than just her four years in college.
Even at the GPAC tournament, where she picked up three wins on the weekend (two in singles and one in doubles), all she focused on was the environment and the team.
“There’s lots of energy, even though you’re running on six hours of sleep. It reminds you why you’re there: because you love tennis and being next to the team.”
She loved getting to know her teammates better during the time spent in Lincoln at the tournament and watching them be competitive. Whether on the court or the sidelines cheering her team on, to Ainslie, tennis is about bringing up the team and bringing the glory to God.
