She grew up playing, coaching and mentoring others through the game, which left a big impact on her life.
That lifelong love has come together in Dunedin for Ryder, who is Tennis Otago’s new game development officer.
Ryder, 42, first picked up a racket when she was 8 and has hardly put it down since.
She went through various tennis programmes, hired a coach and played varsity (top-level) tennis for all four years at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona.
After a stint playing division two tennis for the University of Southern Colorado on a scholarship, Ryder returned to Arizona, where she was the No 1 seed at Pima Community College.
Eventually, Ryder — who also started coaching when she was 19 — tapered off from playing competitive league tennis, and found another hobby in social tennis.
She moved to New Zealand seven years ago to be with her husband, Sean, who is originally from Australia, and settled in Auckland.
She played only a small amount of tennis for East Tamaki, but when they relocated to Dunedin and the Tennis Otago job came up, everything fell into place.
"It’s been my identity for such a long time," Ryder said.
"Every time I go out on to the court, it ignited that love that I’ve always had for it and I always feel good after coming off the court."
Ryder was finding her feet in the Tennis Otago role as she looked to strengthen the programmes.
"I’m excited to get to know the schools, the clubs, the people and just be a presence, support and just get people excited."
Ryder was also keen to develop tournaments and expand the game "and really show support for tennis [in] the South Island".
"We want to help create future stars like Lulu Sun and Erin Routliffe.
"It’s getting those opportunities and just puting a racket in someone's hands — who knows what that can lead to, and that’s exciting."
Those opportunities included the Love Tennis events earlier this month, which were open to all abilities, and the Otago Indoor Open and and Otago junior tournament on September 28-29.
Ryder noticed differences between tennis in the United States and New Zealand, and that Kiwi children tended to play multiple sports, compared to specialising, she said.
"Then they get into tennis, you see those other sports kind of go through their ground strokes, or their footwork
on the court, which actually helps elevate them as a well-rounded player."
Tennis had given her so much through the past 34 years — "tennis is a sport that you can play for a lifetime" — and that passion remained.
"When I’m on the court, that’s when I meditate and I’m nothing of anything else.
"It’s just that ball and the racket.
"I don’t play every single day, but months will go by, and I’ll get on the court and hit ... it’s just like riding a bike.
"You pick it up again and it just feels really good. I think at this level, and at this age, you’re just happy to be able to get out on the court."
