Preview: Our Hispanic Heritage Month Series Continues With a Look at Tennis Champ Rosie Casals
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month the Ailes Apprentice Program is sponsoring a special series celebrating inspirational people inside the Hispanic/Latino community. Tomorrow at 8:20a ET, tune in to Fox & Friends for the second part in the series -- a look at pioneering tennis champ Rosie Casals. Read Host Alicia Acuna's behind-the-scenes blog about her interview with Casals below:
Rosie Casals allowed us into her home on a hot and humid afternoon in Palm Springs. Fox News Producer Brad Newman and our photographer, Al, were there a couple hours ahead of my arrival to set up. Rosie Casals is a trailblazing tennis player, who changed the game for women and Latinos.
She was very welcoming and patient as we took over her living room area with lights, equipment and a rearrangement of her furniture. She introduced me to her cat and dog. The dog was sweet -- the cat had little interest in getting close to all the activity. In the first few minutes, as we got to know each other before our sit-down interview, Rosie came across as very warm and seemed to have a straightforward approach.
She is kind, but definitely not a pushover! At one point during the interview, she told Brad, who was guiding me through our piece, "I'll talk. You edit!" Rosie was awesome.
If you watch the story that we have put together for the Ailes Apprentice Program's Hispanic Heritage Month series, airing tomorrow on Fox and Friends, you will see why we have decided to tell her story. You will also see that, like all of the people we have highlighted, she is someone who is dedicated to giving back. She does so by encouraging young people to work harder than they think possible, and to work for that dream that may seem out of reach. Rosie also coaches young tennis players who may not otherwise be able to afford lessons.
Rosie did not come from wealth, by any means. And during the time when she was building her career, she had multiple obstacles stacked up against her, including that she had little to no money, and that she was a short, Hispanic woman. In the 60s and 70s, that was not a combination for an amazing tennis destiny. Rosie had heart. She also felt the need to make a point. But most important, she loved the game. Rosie Casals told us she is tennis, and tennis is her.
She must have done a lot of things right. She eventually went on to become half of one of the game's most successful doubles teams with Billie Jean King. Rosie told us she calls Billie Jean "The Old Lady". She also admits that she's probably the only one who can get away with it.
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Check out part one of our series, with a look at Taba Maluenda. Plus, for more stories celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, visit Fox News Latino.
