What age did you start playing court tennis & what was your first memory of playing?
I started playing court tennis when I was 5 years old! I would go out there with my dad and Grandfather to watch and after they finished, they would hit balls with me. It is one of my favorite memories because my grandparents died when I was very young, and I didn’t get to spend much time with them and knowing that court tennis was a part of our time together makes it even more special to me.
Outside of court tennis what is your favorite sport and why?
Honestly, I love all sports, always have and always will! I played everything growing up: tennis, basketball, soccer, golf, and even bowling. Obviously, I think racket sports are my favorite because I have the most crossover with them, but I love running and sprinting so anything that involves that I am in for!
If you could change one rule in court tennis, what would it be?
This is one of my favorite questions to answer! If I could change one rule, it would be to get rid of the fault line over by the grille. It was not an original part of the game, and although I can’t say exactly when it was added it is just something I don’t think we need. It would allow even more serving variations which could stop power from being such a dominant part of our return of serve, and would force everything to think more about gameplans etc.
Are you excited for the upcoming world championships? When and where does it happen and how can we all watch?
I am definitely excited, although I will say that only having a year between World Championships has definitely taken its toll. I will have played 3 World Championships (including Doubles) in a 14-month span on top of the other tournaments. I will never complain about getting to be a part of them, but my body and mind would certainly enjoy some time off! The 2023 World Championship will be at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, VA September 17 – 21! A beautiful new court and club that will put on a spectacular event.
Why have you chosen to use Tambour Edge strings moving forward and what do you think of them?
I’ve chosen to use the Tambour Edge string for a couple of reasons. First is that I have always dreamed of using more colorful things in court tennis. Because of the rules and setup of the game it is very difficult to stand out or have fun, and the colored string is just that, a great way to express our creativity in our rackets! Second is that the string allows me to hold the ball longer, which is a key part of my game. The little bit of extra softness through the strings makes a big difference in control, and I think most players will find that it can help with the consistency and control of shot!
Because of the size of the sport, do you find it hard competing against friends?
It is always tough to play against your friends, and as you said we must do a lot in this game. I used to struggle with it a lot, not wanting to offend or upset a friend but always wanting to compete and win. I think as I have gotten older and matured a bit this problem has gone away. We all want to compete and win, but at the end of the day it is just a game, and being able to travel and experience all of this with friends is so much more important and will certainly be what I remember from my time.
Who is your sporting idol and why?
My sporting idol has always been Kobe Bryant. He was an incredible competitor with a training mentality unlike anyone else I’ve ever seen. Listening to his methodical approach to the game of basketball, and his relentless training beliefs helped me build my own.
You have always played with different rackets Grays, Gold Leaf, Harrow, and now Wayward. Why is that?
I am a firm believer in choice and options. There is no way everyone in court tennis should be using the exact same racket. Every one of us swings the racket differently and should be looking to find a racket that suits our type of swing, this is how we become the best player we can. I also feel that competition is a good thing. Rackets are so expensive and a huge barrier of entry into the game, and competition in the racket business can help lower prices and make the game more affordable.
What are your long-term goals for Real Tennis?
Well, I am certainly entering the latter stages of my career! I am in my mid-thirties now and would love to be able to defend my World Championship title a few times. I know there is a group out there coming for me, but hopefully I can hold them off for a few years! Otherwise, I am working hard to try to find ways to build courts for less money. Right now, we have courts being built for $2 million which I don’t believe helps make us a sustainable or attractive game. My goal is to find a way to build a solid court for under $1 million and help encourage the growth of the game.
Alright final question, if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of juniors who want to become great players, what would it be?
That is a great question! My one piece of advice would be to get out there on your own. The more time you spend on the court the more comfortable you will be. The hardest part about this game is its uniqueness, and part of that is learning the angles and bounces etc. Solo practice can be a great way to overcome that quickly. Otherwise, just make sure you have fun out there!
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