FINDING FOCUS AT UF
Why did you decided to transfer from Wake Forest? Was there anything that caused that?
Yeah, there was. Wake Forest is a great school. I really enjoyed my time there, but you know, some things happened partly on me making choices that don’t coincide with Wake Forest. The move kind of became impossible to avoid.
Why the decision to choose UF? Were there other schools?
There were some other schools on the backburner. Florida definitely was the first. (Head coach) Andy (Jackson) was the first person I contacted. I called him right away when I knew that I was going to transfer. The thing about getting into Wake Forest was I didn’t get in until about January because I did two years of regular high school, then did online school. I didn’t graduate until October when I should have graduated in June.
What was it like playing in the No. 1 position at Wake Forest as a freshman?
Freshman year I did really well. I think after my first ten matches I got ranked like top twenty in the country. Then last year I got injured and got pneumonia. It didn’t go as well as I would have liked.
On that note, what are the things that you bring to the UF team this year that they didn’t have last year?
To give them things they didn’t have last year is going to be hard. They lost Alex Lacroix who was consistently ranked Top Ten in the country. I’m going to bring a lot of excitement, a lot of spirit, a lot of fun, hard work and hopefully some wins, more importantly.
What do you like to do off the court?
I like to read a lot of books, riding my bike, doing outdoor things like fishing going on the boat, playing video like Call of Duty – normal things.
What books do you typically read?
Fiction. I really like classics. In Tulsa, there was this really cool bookstore. It was kind of like a mystics bookstore; it had stuff on hypnosis. I got this interesting book called the Smoking Gods. Probably one of my favorite books is 1984.
What do you think you need fix in your game?
Improving my fitness. Starting in the summer, I was in really bad shape. It’s been getting progressively better, but it’s not that easy to get in really good shape, apparently. That is definitely number one. I would really like to get my serve better. I would really like to make it a serious Do you prefer doubles or singles? weapon and not have work as hard on my I’ve always been more of a singles player service game. Also, my transition game – before I came to college. But, these last two-and-a-half years or so I’ve been playing moving from deeper in the court, maybe a lot of doubles. I really like doubles and I’ve more of a defensive position to taking a short ball and come into net. gotten a lot better at doubles too just from playing here – just understanding doubles strategy and knowing what you have to Is it more difficult for you do to win. I would consider myself a because you are 5-foot-8, multifaceted tennis player. not one of the taller guys? Yeah, I don’t have a ten-foot wingspan, but hopefully with anticipation I can What is your singles game, are make up for that. Hitting a good there any pro players that you approach shot too, not limited, watch or try to emulate? just a little small. I don’t try to go and completely copy someone’s game. My game would probably be a baseliner – an aggressive baseliner. What your favorite thing about I come to net when I can, but that’s not the game of tennis? usually my main goal to try and get to net. I really like the rhythm. I like hitting the If there is anybody I’d like to play like, it ball. I like how it goes back and forth and would probably be Djokovic because he is you can put different spins. We were talking really solid on the ground and he comes about this the other day because we were to net when he has to. playing FIFA (video game) and there was a shoot out, and we asked what a shoot out would be for tennis. There probably can’t be Djokovic’s return game is amazing too. a shoot out in tennis because there is not That’s one of the better shots in my just one way to win a point. That’s one of game, too. My return and backhand. 16 GATOR COUNTRY | NOV/2011
my favorite things about tennis. You really have to get creative in order to win points. Some people just hit the ball really hard or play a certain game type. But, if you watch the good players, they adapt a lot. I like the rhythm and use your mind.
Do you struggle with mental aspect?
Sometimes my mind wanders a bit or loses concentration. Maybe, maybe I let my emotions get to me, but for the most part when I’m playing I win matches mentally. There gets to the point where you play enough and you’ve been in a situation enough to know how to act. You really have to keep a tight rein on your emotions and play the next point. It might have hurt me this past week in Tulsa. Overall, my mind definitely gives me an advantage on the tennis court.
Was it your dad that trained you all those years, or did you go to an academy?
Eventually, I ended up going to Evert for a year to train with the USTA. That was when my brother went to college. Up until then I had a built-in practice partner. The competition just with my brother, there really was no need to go anywhere. We did move down to Florida. I live in Naples now, originally born and raised in Philadelphia.
You’ve had quite the trek. Where was your favorite place to live?
I would take Florida in the wintertime and Philadelphia in the summer time.
Anything else as a tennis player?
I really want to win. I enjoy winning. I imagine most people feel the same way, but you’d be surprised sometimes. I like to have fun on the court.
Are you more a match player than a practice guy?
There is something that triggers in a match that just gets better.
Anything else about you that people need to know?
I’m really proud to be a Gator and to get the opportunity to be here. It’s sounds kind of cliché, but I’m 100 percent serious about that. The opportunity I’ve been given to come from Wake after everything that has happened, it is truly a blessing.
FACT: Enrollment grew from 106 in 1909 to 2,200 by 1927 under the leadership of the University of Florida’s second president, Albert A. Murphree.