Women's Tennis | 2/5/2026 11:00:00 AM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - Coming from different cities across Spain, four women arrived in the United States with similar expectations about tennis—and quickly learned that the sport would feel very different here. For Nadia (Cases Mundet), Daniela (de Lucas Rivera) Ariadna (Solis Guals), and Abril (Manas Hernandez), the transition reshaped not only how they competed, but how they understood tennis as a team sport.

Each athlete found love for the sport for different reasons. Nadia, from Barcelona, Spain, began playing tennis after her brother inspired her, and was drawn to tennis as a sport where men and women competed on equal footing. Ariadna, who grew up in Santpedor, picked up a racket after watching Rafael Nadal with her father. Abril, from Barcelona, found her love for tennis after trying other sports, and none of them compared to tennis. While Daniela, from Madrid, acknowledged her passion for tennis after spending days missing the sport when she was not practicing it.

Compared to the United States, tennis was seen to be played as an individual sport in Spain. Matches were played alone, responsibility rested on individual competition, and success or failure was handled privately. Arriving in Crookston, Minn., the ladies' mindset shifted almost immediately.

Instead of competing alone, they found themselves surrounded by teammates during matches—cheering, offering feedback, and sharing the pressure. For Daniela, the team environment was unfamiliar but immediately impactful. "It was more of a team sport here, and people were cheering," Daniela said. "I never experienced that before, and I liked it." Nadia echoed that point of view, emphasizing how team support affected daily competition. "The support of our teammates helps a lot," Nadia stated. "It helps in practices and matches."

The consistent support of a team changed how the players approached competition. What once felt like a personal burden became a shared responsibility, allowing each athlete to compete with the understanding the outcome extended beyond the individual.

Along with a new environment within the team, challenges came that tested the players. Ariadna dealt with constant wrist pain for several years. She attempted multiple treatments, but ultimately, she had to undergo surgery in 2024. "Mentally, it was really hard," Ariadna said. "I had been through a lot of matches and pressure, and it got to a point where I couldn't handle it anymore." The injury began to affect more than just her ability to compete. Arianda shared that she felt conflicted when she could not contribute the way she wanted to for her team, "I felt like I was betraying my team," she said. "But then I realized maybe I was doing it for the team by fixing myself and coming back stronger."

While Arianda faced a physical setback, Daniela's struggle was more mental. Before her journey to the United States, she felt overwhelmed by pressure, often competing against the same opponents and worrying about constant losses. The stress continued to follow her throughout her early career in college until the team environment helped shift her mindset. "When I lose and know I didn't give 100 percent, I get really upset," Danelia said. "But when I lose and know I did my best, I'm happy with it." However, the struggles both players experienced reshaped how they approached adversity. Instead of carrying these struggles, they learned to acknowledge them, reset, and move on—understanding that growth does not come from perfection but from perseverance.

Leaving Spain to compete in the United States brought a different kind of adjustment for the players—one that extended beyond the court. While the transition was different for each athlete, being away from home redefined how they experienced tennis and daily life.

The change was immediately noticeable for Abril both in small and everyday ways. "The food is difficult sometimes," she said. "The beginning was hard." The early challenges made the transition slower, but over time, she managed to find a routine and adjusted with the support of friends and teammates. Nadia's experience was different. Having watched her brother go through a similar move before her, she felt more prepared for life away from home. "It wasn't hard at first," Nadia remarked. "But when things went wrong at home, that was the hardest part." Even with preparation, distance created a new appreciation for family and familiar comforts. Being away also strengthened their sense of connection to home. Time apart made minor details—meals, routines, and shared moments—feel more meaningful before they left for college. For both Abril and Nadia, the distance encouraged maturity, independence, and a stronger understanding of what they had left behind.

As the season continues, the team environment is most important for the players and how they handle competition and hardship. What started as an opening door to new adjustments to a new view of tennis grew into a source of confidence in oneself and motivation. Teammates consistently supported one another during matches, practices, and off the court, creating an atmosphere where encouragement was just as important as competition.

For Nadia, her strength through tough moments was built on the support of her team. From experiencing mental fatigue early in her collegiate career, she found reassurance within her team, knowing she could rely on her team on and off the court.

As Abril began to compete collegiately, she began to benefit from the same atmosphere. The team around her helped her find comfort and focus instead of pressure in competition, restoring her confidence.

The team's support was crucial for Arianda and her recovery after wrist surgery. While working through injury, she stayed connected with the group and stayed positive, holding the idea that she would return stronger for her team. A shared view of responsibility created a positive view on setbacks—not as failures, but as steps towards helping again.

Daniela also withheld motivation in the way the team supported one another. When asked, she offered kind advice to other athletes handling tough times while competing in individual sports. "Even if it's an individual sport, you are not alone," she said. "You are not struggling alone."

Looking forward to the Spring season, the group's goals shoot far past individual success. Each athlete highlighted making the conference tournament, advancing past the first round, and finishing among the top teams in the conference.

Although tennis remains an individual sport at its core, Nadia, Ariadna, Abril, and Daniela have learned success does not have to be done alone. Through injury, adjustment, distance from home, and growth, the team atmosphere transformed their understanding of the game—turning four detached journeys into one combined trail.

 
Ariadna Solis Guals

Abril Manas Hernandez

Daniela de Lucas Rivera

Nadia Cases Mundet