As the Penn men’s tennis team heads into Ivy League play, they need every single player performing to the best of his ability. At least one member of the Red and Blue is already there.
Freshman star Jeremy Court hopes to set an example for the rest of the team as the Quakers (8-4) faces St. John’s (11-5) on Wednesday at the Hamlin Tennis Center — their final tune-up before Ivy League competition begins.
The Red and Blue enter the matchup looking to start a consistent winning streak, having alternated wins and losses in their previous seven matches.
After a long layover, the Quakers enter the match on a high note. Their last outing was a 6-1 thrashing of William and Mary on March 18.
Court clinched the match victory with a straight-set win at No. 5 singles. With Penn’s victory already well in hand, Court’s doubles match with his partner Phil Law was abandoned.
The win marked Court’s eighth win in his last nine singles matches, an incredible start for the highly touted recruit.
“I’ve just been trying to play solid and just be consistent and not beat myself, which is what I’ve done in the past sometimes, ” Court said. “I’ve just been working harder in practice and just really focusing every day on trying to get better.”
Court, though, has not been experiencing success alone.
Just as impressive has been Court’s usual doubles partner, sophomore Zach Katz.
Katz has gone 6-1 at singles on the year, while partnering with Court to produce a 6-3 record for a pairing that has bounced between 2nd and 3rd on the ladder throughout the season.
Though the two were split up against William and Mary following an 8-5 setback in their previous loss to Old Dominion, all signs point to success for the duo.
“Zach’s an unbelievable doubles player,” Court said. “We play relaxed on the court and enjoy being out there, and everything just clicks.”
Everything will need to click if the Quakers hope to open their first ever match at the new Hamlin Tennis Center with a victory.
The Red Storm come to Penn Park having already defeated Columbia and Princeton this season, and they boast sophomore talent Ilija Vucic, who has a sparkling 13-3 singles record.
At the end of the day, the Red and Blue know they have to focus on preparing for the conference schedule to come.
“Every match is just preparation for the Ivy League season, which, when it comes down to it, is the most important part of our year,” Court said. “We’re just looking to keep improving, shore up the doubles combinations, and hopefully just really peak for the Ivy League season.”
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