You all train hard, as with all the blues squads. How rigorous is tennis training in a typical week?
Obviously with the Oxford schedule court time is an issue that there is not much getting around. We train twice for good two-hour sessions during the week with a bucs match every Wednesday, and Saturday fixtures against many prestigious tennis clubs. In Trinity in preparation for varsity training increases to most days (as long as the English weather does not have other plans.)
How is the season shaping up so far for the blues?
It’s going well. In Michaelmas it’s all about the bucs league and we are currently 4th in the top division of the country. This is no mean feat as the other five teams in our league are full on tennis academies.
I would imagine it’s tough to get team spirit going at points, what would you say?
Team spirit is easy when you’re winning, but sure, when the losses start rolling in it gets tough. Tennis is very much in the mind, and I feel as a team we’re pretty mentally tough and so this, as well as Park end on a Wednesday, create a strong team spirit.
Have any great freshers stepped up to the team?
We have one fresher in the squad this year, John Groom. He is stepping up to the plate very nicely and has won his last three singles against some very good players so it bodes well.
Do you personally think the use of graduates at the pinnacle of Oxford sport is unfair on aspiring undergraduates looking to push into the top teams?
I personally do not know what an “easy degree,” at Oxford involves or even if it exists. If they do exist then there is an argument. However as a sportsman you want to be the best even if you have more academic hours (again I don’t know if this is true). It should just inspire you to work harder and act as motivation.
Lastly, how do you fancy your varsity chances?
Varsity is a unique competition. It is a pressure cauldron that suits some but not others, and momentum can be won or lost in a couple of points. It’s impossible to call definitively. However, as a sportsman you must back yourself, which is exactly what we will do when the time comes.
