After only being in the country for two weeks, Ravid Hezi has already stepped into the No. 2 singles spot on the Arizona tennis team and found a way to pull out a three-set victory over NAU’s Fernando Freitas.
The freshman from Israel who arrived for the spring semester helped the No. 48 Wildcats to a 6-1 win over NAU at Robson Tennis Center in his first collegiate match by notching victories at both the No. 2 singles position as well as the No. 2 doubles spot, teaming with junior Francois VanderMerwe.
“”It was my first match. I was nervous,”” Hezi said. “”I was glad I got (the team) the point. It is important for me and my confidence.””
Early in the match, it was clear that he was nervous as the freshman dropped the first set 6-2. However he began to gain confidence as the match progressed as he took the second set 6-3 and then set himself up to win it in the third when he served for the match at 5-3.
After winning the first point and then losing the second, Hezi won the next three points to seal the first victory of his collegiate career.
“”During the match I became more free,”” Hezi said. “”I controlled my serve and began to play more of my tennis.””
Hezi wasn’t the only Wildcat who was battling nerves in the match. Fellow freshman Milos Romic, who is from Serbia, and redshirt freshman Alex Labrosse were also playing in their first collegiate match. Romic teamed with sophomore Peter Zimmer to clinch a victory in the No. 3 doubles spot before falling in his No. 5 singles match to NAU’s Jeffrey Morys in three sets. Labrosse played in the No. 6 singles position and beat Chris Arena in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
“”I think everyone had a lot of butterflies,”” UA assistant coach Tom Lloyd said. “”It was nice (for the freshmen) to get a victory under their belt and get a little familiarity with each other. All in all, it was a good day.””
The next chance for the Wildcats to gain some experience will come today when the team hosts St. Mary’s College at noon at Robson Tennis Center.
“”They’re going to be a difficult match,”” Lloyd said. “”We’re going to have to come out and fight.””
