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Dom Inglot focuses on the ball. (Photo courtesy Virginia Athletics Media Relations) |
Led by senior Dom Inglot, the Virginia men’s tennis team scored its second, consecutive ITA Indoor Tennis National Championship last month. The Cavaliers completed the task by knocking off No. 3 Georgia. Most recently, the Hoos knocked off in-state rival Virginia Tech to improve to 15-0 on the season.
In addition to providing veteran leadership to a young team, Inglot has anchored the team with a 15-6 record in singles. Along with partner Michael Shabaz, Inglot has particularly excelled at doubles, compiling a 22-4 record overall.
After finishing the indoor season with a 6-1 victory over the Hokies, Virginia now moves to the outdoor portion of the season, beginning with a March 10 date with Old Dominion.
TheSabre.com caught up with the London, England, native to talk about the transition to the outdoors and keeping eyes on the ultimate prize: the outdoor National Championship.
BAILEY: Is it hard at all to stay focused and come back to work after such a big emotional high, winning the Indoor Tennis National Championship?
Inglot: I think it’s a little hard because all the emotions and energy and adrenaline you use for the nationals has been depleted and you don’t get a lot of time to rest before the next match. However, I think it’s more the physical drain that you feel more so than the emotional drain. Either way, you do the best you can and see where it takes you.
BAILEY: What’s the hardest part of the transition from indoor to outdoor courts and which do you prefer?
Inglot: Once you go outdoors, the courts are slower and the wind and sun become a factor so it makes the ball striking a little harder. I usually looked forward to going indoors from outdoors but this year I’m excited for the outdoor season.
BAILEY: Is it easier to play as a No. 1 seed when you know that you have guys throughout the line-up that are capable of winning? Maybe not so much pressure?
Inglot: I think playing No. 1 is always going to be tough because the guys down the line will be looking up to you to take the lead and make a good start. Having said that, the guys are extremely talented and are playing well and they are winning so it makes my life a little easier because I know they will come through when we need them, much in the same way they did against Georgia.
BAILEY: With a team that is this talented, is it hard at all not to look too far ahead to the outdoor NCAA Tournament?
Inglot: We’re not looking too far ahead in the future because there are a lot of teams still in our way before we even get there. It’s not like we have an easy part of the season coming up or anything like that. … After spring break we have a road trip to Texas and Baylor, which are always difficult. They have very good teams this year. We just try to focus on winning this Friday first and the rest of the season. A lot will change between now and national outdoors. A lot of teams can get better than they are and a lot of teams can get worse than they are. So we’re just going to see how it goes and take one measure at a time.
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