Texas A&M coach Steve Denton: "Remind your players tennis is designed to be fun"



by LORENZO CIOTTI

Texas A&M coach Steve Denton: "Remind your players tennis is designed to be fun"
© Texas A&M website

Texas A&M University men's team head coach Steve Denton kindly granted an interview to Tennis World USA, in which he talked about the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, a tournament that started today in New York, the management of the group of student-athletes, the mental-health topic in the locker room and the goals of the Aggies men's team for the spring.

The ITA National Team Indoor Championships is upon us: what is the team's real goal?

"We have started out well winning our first six matches so our goal is to keep that momentum going in New York."

How did the team prepare for this challenging event that awaits you in New York?

"We have had success in three road encounters. Two of those were indoors on the road. Additionally, we did a training block indoors in preparation."

Considering the first part of the season, who were the student-athletes who surprised you the most?

"While I knew he was extremely talented and didn’t get to play much last year due to injury, JC Roddick has really started the spring off very well. He has continued his solid start in the fall and that success has carried on to the spring thus far."

How important is a coach's experience in the balance of a team?

"I think being through many battles as a former college and tour player, this gives me experience in being in my player’s shoes. Additionally it gives me instant credibility with the team since I have been there before."

What are the points on which you try to motivate your players, during training and matches?

"Playing percentage tennis is really important. Having the mindset of playing every point which starts with trying to control the intangibles. Having a better attitude than your opponent, making good decisions on the court and finally and maybe most importantly, outworking your opponent."

Is there talk of the mental health-topic in the Aggies locker room?

"Mental health is a talk in every locker room around the country. If you have the love and passion for the game and can be happy and have fun in competing and striving for success then you can handle the adversities along the way. You have to continue to remind yourself and your players to have perspective and that this is a game and is designed to be fun. Finally, I remind my players that this is the greatest time of their tennis career so enjoy the journey."