By snoadmin
Long Beach State tennis star Hannah Grady is set to compete in the World University Games next week in Bangkok, Thailand. Already a threat to the Big West Conference after her first two seasons, the two-time conference player of the year will represent Great Britain in the competition and look for a chance to advance her career to greater heights.
“It’s a great honor for me to have been selected to represent my country at the games; I have heard it is such a prestigious career that is recognized by people all over the world,” Grady said.””I know the competition is likely to be extremely strong, but I’m sure it will be a great experience for me. I’m excited to get there and see what I can do.”
Playing overseas has been as prominent for Grady as her tenure at LBSU. Grady won several British national championships as a teenager, and was the No. 1 junior in Great Britain during 2001 and 2002. Grady also won the 2003 Scottish Junior Championship. When coming to the United States to play at LBSU in 2005, the competitiveness was already existent, and Grady became the Big West freshman of the year.
“I competed at a high level both in England and abroad before I came to America, so when I got here I wasn’t as shocked [at the high standard of play] as I could have been,” Grady said.
Grady said the experience gives her a good advantage in certain competitive situations. It has showed; 13 of Grady’s 41 career singles wins were over nationally ranked opponents.
One thing Grady could take from LBSU to Bangkok is a development of patience on the court.
“I think that since coming to America and being able to play more outside, it has made me have to become more patient within points as the courts are slower,” Grady said,””so I am not able to put the ball away easily.”
Grady said she also has become more confident about her own tennis since playing on a team.
“Although it can sometimes be tough knowing that you are trying to win for 7-10 others as well as yourself, it’s nice to know that you have the full support of so many people,” Grady added. “This has definitely helped my confidence levels since being in America.”
Calling it a “big bonus,” Grady said she hopes to be well prepared and have more experience than her opponents when she returns. She will enter her junior season with a squad including three freshmen, but will put less expectation on herself, despite being the defending conference champion.
“We all go out on the court to win [over] whoever we are playing, so I don’t think it matters what title you hold or what you have done in the past,” Grady said.””At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is who plays the better tennis on the day.”
