Men’s Tennis
The Arizona men’s tennis team will host three opponents for the ITA Kickoff Classic this weekend from Friday to Monday in Tucson. The Wildcats will go head to head with UC Irvine, New Mexico and Texas Tech, with the early matches being played at 10 a.m. and the later matches being played at 2 p.m. each day.

“We have a lot of new guys on the team this year, so this year is just a matter of really last semester is first and for most making sure the guys are in the best condition and best shape possible going into the spring and then also bringing them all together as a team,” UA men’s tennis coach Tad Berkowitz said.

Many of the players have grown up playing as individuals, which is very different compared to playing as a team. The players have been tasked with learning how to play for each other, rather than just for themselves.

Berkowitz said he wants to see his players always give 100 percent. 

“It depends on the match, it depends really on the day and the week and the kind of year and the time of the year that we are at, but the main thing for us is that we will never get on the guys if they try their hardest and they compete as hard as they can and fight as hard as they can,” Berkowitz said. “That’s the first and foremost, the main thing we ask for from them.” 

For the fast approaching tournament this weekend, the team has six matches in four days, so the main objective for the team is to be ready to go from the beginning.

Berkowitz added that he does not expect to see his players’ best tennis this weekend, but does expect to see their best intensity and focus.
“It will be interesting to see,” Berkowitz said. 

Women’s Tennis
After giving back to the community last Saturday, the UA women’s tennis team will travel to Palm Springs, Calif., for the weekend to begin its spring season by playing in the National Collegiate Tennis Classic. 

With the team consisting of one senior, three juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen, there’s a nice mix of knowledge and experience to be shared in hopes of bringing a victory back to Tucson.

Arizona has lost four players to graduation, so the team is working through some kinks and dealing with injuries from last season.

“Well, we obviously have to work on doubles, any time you bring in new people into a system that’s already been in place for several years, you kind of have to teach them a few new tricks, and doubles is a work in progress,” UA women’s tennis coach Vicky Maes said.

Out of the tournament this upcoming weekend, Maes said she hopes the team will relax because the players perform better when they do not feel under pressure. 

“The girls have played all their lives, so we’ll give it the best we got, but certainly it’s going to be an interesting season,” Maes said.

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