Tennis On Campus

The USTA National Campus Championship is the pinnacle event for college club tennis teams from around the country. Sixty-four colleges qualify for the championship through their respective USTA Campus Championship - Section Events and compete for bragging rights and the illustrious title of National Champion. The 2011 event is taking place April 7-9 at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C., and the University of Florida team will try to go one step further this year after finishing in second place at the 2010 championship. USTA.com recently spoke with Florida club president Kenny Palmer about his team’s preparations for the tournament, which teams he hopes to face in the competition, their favorite Tennis On Campus moment of the season and much more.

USTA.com: What is your team doing to prepare for the upcoming National Campus Championship?

Club President Kenny Palmer: We have set club practices three times a week for two hours each day, with extra practices for those players traveling to nationals with lots of match play.

USTA.com: What is your team looking forward to most about attending the National Campus Championship?

Kenny Palmer: Playing players from all over the country rather than just within our state, and the opportunity to finally travel and play out of Florida!

USTA.com: What are your team goals at this year’s National Campus Championship? Any predictions on your placement or outcome?

Kenny Palmer: After finishing second last year, the only goal coming into this National Campus Championship is to come out as champions.

USTA.com: What are some of the things you attribute to the success of your team?

Kenny Palmer: We are constantly getting new, talented players coming to the team each year. Our team is very deep, so when it comes to practices, there are a lot of different players (and different styles of players) to play against.

USTA.com: What advice do you have for fellow club tennis teams that are striving to qualify for the National Campus Championship?

Kenny Palmer: Do as much recruiting for the team as you can because you never know who is at your school and doesn’t know that the team exists. Practice and play matches as much as you can, and play in as many tournaments as your budget allows.

USTA.com: Does your team have any unusual or unique pre-match rituals? Any team superstitions?

Kenny Palmer: During the car ride over to the courts, a pump-up CD created by one of our players is played the entire time.

USTA.com: Describe your typical practice schedule or week with your team before a big tournament.

Kenny Palmer: Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, we have our set club practices. At these practices, whoever is going to be playing in the tournament, whether it be singles or doubles, is matched up accordingly with the next toughest opponents within the team. Each tournament player specifically works on what is needed in their own game outside of playing matches, and they practice almost every day within that week, as long as school permits.

USTA.com: Are there any teams you are hoping to meet at the National Campus Championship? Any big team rivalries?

Kenny Palmer: UC Berkeley (because of last year’s final) and also Texas A&M, UCLA and Texas.

USTA.com: What has been your team’s favorite Tennis On Campus moment this year?

Kenny Palmer: Finishing off UCF in the sectional tournament after being down 0-4 in the tiebreaker (while playing to 5).

USTA.com: If you could add one professional player to your team’s roster, who would it be and why?

Kenny Palmer: Pete Sampras, because he was the best American player.

USTA.com: What type of community involvement has your team been a part of?

Kenny Palmer: We have sold programs at football games, volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and took part in a charity tennis tournament.

USTA.com: If your team won the National Campus Championship title, how would you celebrate? Would you take the trophy anywhere interesting?

Kenny Palmer: We would celebrate at the hotel with all of the teams that played and have one big celebration, and when we got back to campus, we’d put the trophy in the coordinator’s meeting office in our recreational center for everyone to see.