Women's History Month Highlight: Mariko Fritz-Krockow

Meet Mariko: Tennis has been a driving force in my life since I was about 7 years old, when my parents first put a racket in my hands. My father told me that if I hit the ball over the fence, we’d go for ice cream. We went for ice cream. For anyone who has seen me play, this explains a lot. (For those who haven’t: I hit hard and flat.) We moved to Tokyo when I was 13 and I joined a tennis academy there. I started playing Jr. ITF tournaments shortly after, and within two years I was traveling the world to compete. Playing Jr. Wimbledon was a highlight of my junior career. I went on to play college tennis at both UCLA and UVA. After a short stint on the tour post-graduation, I was burnt out and decided to go to graduate school in Sydney, Australia.

I joke with my husband that he’s lucky I never played the Australian Open, because Australia was a definite factor in my choosing the University of New South Wales — and if I had gone earlier for the Aussie Open, we might never have met. We moved to the Bay Area together, where I spent a decade at “normal jobs” in Silicon Valley startups. I had completely stepped away from tennis from 2006 to 2018, and that hiatus might have continued had my mother not jokingly suggested we enter a mother-daughter tournament. I went out, bought a racket and some shoes, had a blast, and kept playing. I discovered there’s a whole world of adult tournaments run by the USTA nationally and the ITF internationally. I started competing and was eventually selected for Team USA at the World Championships. I’ve now represented the USA three years in a row. Last year, my team won the team event — and I went on to win the individual singles title as well.

I’m currently ranked #1 in the world in the 40s. After having my first child, I stepped away from startup life. Motherhood and my tennis comeback happened to coincide, and I chose to shift gears — training, coaching, and getting involved in tennis organizations. I’ve had the privilege of serving on the USTA NorCal Board and as well as several committees. Growing the game and sharing the joy (and, let’s be honest, the occasional suffering) of tennis with others is what has brought me the most fulfillment in recent years.

Q: When you look back on your journey in the NorCal tennis community, what are you most proud of?

A: After college, I put my racket down and didn’t play for 10 years. It was the NorCal tennis community that helped me not only return to the game, but also gave me the support and confidence to keep going. Being part of and helping grow a community like that is something I am incredibly proud of.

Q: What has kept you inspired and connected to this community for so long?

A: Honestly, it comes down to loving the game. Tennis is complex and fun, teaches you real life skills, and takes you to places and people you’d never find otherwise. No matter your level or age, there’s a place for you in tennis.

And then there are the women. The camaraderie among women in tennis has been something I didn’t fully expect but am so grateful for. These are women who push each other, celebrate each other, and show up for each other — and that energy has kept me motivated to keep striving, whether that’s chasing another title or finding new ways to give back. That sense of community is also a big part of why I’ve leaned into volunteer and organizational work. Tennis has given me so much, and I want to help make sure it’s accessible to more people — because everyone deserves to find their place in it.

Q: How has tennis shaped you, both on and off the court?

A: Tennis has been a through line in my life from the very beginning. Competing on the Jr. ITF circuit taught me time management, grit, mental resilience, communication skills — and how to pack a suitcase efficiently, which is genuinely underrated. It took me around the world as a junior and into college tennis. The love of travel and different cultures that tennis gave me ultimately led me to pursue my master’s degree in Australia, where I met my husband. And it’s because of him that I ended up in NorCal.

My experience in the tennis world has also taught me to stand up for what I believe in. It led me to join the DEI Committee at USTA NorCal, where I try to make the sport a little better for everyone who loves it.

Q: What have you learned through your years of service, leadership, and involvement in the community?

A: I’ve learned that I have a voice and that I can actually do something with it. The tennis world isn’t perfect, and women and girls face real obstacles in it. I’ve also seen that we can make it better. So many of us share the same experiences, and together we can advocate for change. Whether it’s an outdated policy, a misogynistic rule, or something that just wasn’t thought through — we can speak up, and things can shift.

Q: Were there any women who helped inspire or shape your path along the way?

A: So many, but the person at the top of that list is my mother. She has always been there — cheering and pushing me, no matter what I was taking on. The person who inspires me every single day right now is my 9-year-old daughter. Watching her move through the world makes me want to make it better for her and her brother.

Other standouts: my 4th-grade teacher, Ms. Xuma, who believed in me early; my junior coaches Yone Kamio and later Lori McNeil, who pushed me and showed me what tennis could lead to; and my friend Miriam Warren, who gave me my first job and has been a mentor and friend ever since. But there are truly so many more. My friends inspire me daily, as do the countless women out there working and volunteering to make a difference. Q: What has your experience as a woman in the tennis community meant to you personally over the years?

A: Being a woman in tennis has its ups and downs, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. Throughout my career, from my junior years to today, my peers and I have dealt with our share of misogyny from players, coaches, and tournament directors. There have been times we felt unsafe traveling or at tennis facilities, but I’ve learned that I have a voice. I want other women and girls to know that they do too — that people will listen.

I love what this sport can teach us. Work ethic, grit, time management, a deep belief in yourself — tennis builds all of that. I want those qualities passed on to more women and girls around the world.

Q: What are some of the moments or experiences that have meant the most to you throughout your journey?

A: There have been many highlights. The first came in 2000, when I stepped onto the Wimbledon courts for my junior match — that one still gives me chills.

More recently, captaining the 40s World Team Championships team last year and winning — and then following it up with the individual singles title — that was something else entirely. I also love playing mother-daughter tournaments with my mom. We’ve won a couple of USTA national titles together, which is pretty special.

And in the past year, my daughter has really started to enjoy playing tennis with me. Every time she asks, I’m thrilled.

Q: What would you want the next generation of women in tennis to take away from your story?

A: Two things, and they go together: it’s never too late — and surround yourself with people who support you, and who you support in return. If you want to try something, go try it. Want to move up a few rating levels, ride a motorcycle, or try out for the Olympic handball team? Go for it. I didn’t want to look back on my tennis and wonder “what if.” So if something is within your power to do and you want to do it — go do it, and give it everything you’ve got.