SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5/26/2020 10:38:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Men’s Tennis Was Finally Close to Full Strength When Season Ended
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Just a couple weeks away from being at full strength for the first time all season, Brian Boland saw his second year at Baylor abruptly end due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I thought our best was in front of us," Boland said of a 13-3 team that was 12th in the final USTA rankings. "We were really confident and thought we were as good as anyone and could compete for the Big 12 and national championship. We never got that opportunity, but I know the team is excited about coming back next year and hopefully being to finish some unfinished business."
Not only did the Bears not get to finish what they started in 2020, it felt like they never really got out of the chute. Because of injuries, even with a deeper than usual roster of a dozen players, Boland was never able to put the lineup on the court that he had dreamed of back in January.
Jenson Brooksby, the nation's No. 1 recruit, came in with a turf toe injury in January and was still maybe a couple weeks from being able to get on the court for the first time as a collegiate player. Sophomore Adrian Boitan and freshman Alex Garcia had both battled back from injuries, while junior Matias Soto had some nagging injuries and then took off a week to join his native Chile for a Davis Cup qualifier against Sweden.
"I was really pleased with where we were and how well the team was coming together and the job some of our young players did early on without having an ideal amount of preparation," Boland said. "Adrian was starting to play some of his best tennis, and I was really hopeful that he would be at 100 percent come the conference season and the NCAAs."
Missing so many of the key pieces, Boland had other players like freshmen Sebastian Nothhaft, Rahul Dhokia and Garcia step up to contribute in a big way. They were a combined 14-5 in dual-match singles, with Dhokia and Nothhaft winning all nine of their matches at No. 6 singles.
"Sebastian Nothhaft came in as a freshman in January and was able to show us that he can compete right away and play at the highest level. I'm really excited about what he was able to do in a short time," Boland said.
"Rahul came in and didn't have a lot of time to get acclimated to the college experience, but he continued to get better and stronger and really started to show great signs of progress. Alex Garcia was a top recruit that came in in January and was out 10 weeks with an ankle injury. Unfortunately, we were just starting to see signs of improvement and him get into the sync of things when the season ended."
Another highlight of the spring was the development of junior Sven Lah, a doubles All-American as a sophomore who played predominantly in the bottom half of the singles lineup a year ago. This year, he was a perfect 10-0 at No. 2 and a combined 14-1 overall in dual-match singles, earning ITA Region Player to Watch honors and a No. 35 national ranking.
"I was thrilled with the development of Sven Lah, who became a top player for us and spent time as a top-20 player in the country," Boland said of Lah, who was a team-best 25-5 overall. "He's really developed his game over the course of the last year and a half to two years. He's such a professional in all aspects, and he was a great leader for us this year."
As healthy as he's been in his career, senior Constantin Frantzen was 9-1 in dual matches and got the clinching point against Illinois with a three-set victory at No. 4. Named the region's Most Improved Senior, Frantzen was paired with Lah in doubles and went 13-1 to earn a No. 11 national ranking.
"Coni Frantzen had come a long way," Boland said. "He had to sit out for quite some time over the last few years with a nagging shoulder injury, but he was at 100 percent and was starting to get some really good wins."
Grad transfer Ryan Dickerson from Duke was arguably one of the most consistent players in the lineup, compiling a 9-2 mark at Nos. 3 and 4 singles and 12-3 at No. 2 doubles with Soto.
"I feel like Coach Boland really put me in situations with individual training and just gave me opportunities where I had an opportunity to maximize myself and reach success," Dickerson said. "It's been a really good first year."
Dickerson and Frantzen, the lone seniors on the team, have committed to return to Baylor next year after the NCAA's decision to grant an extra year of eligibility for spring sports' athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the lingering questions for next year will be whether Brooksby decides to turn pro after just one semester of college, but "that's so far off, to be honest, I've kind of ignored the issue," Boland said. "We don't even know where pro tennis is right now. There are just so many unknowns."
Regardless, Boland says he was "excited about where our program was at the conclusion of this year."
"I thought we were just getting into position to make a great run," he said. "I think the guys are going to be more eager than ever to get started next year. As challenging as this time has been, I know we'll all come out of this situation better."
Baylor Bear Insider
Just a couple weeks away from being at full strength for the first time all season, Brian Boland saw his second year at Baylor abruptly end due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I thought our best was in front of us," Boland said of a 13-3 team that was 12th in the final USTA rankings. "We were really confident and thought we were as good as anyone and could compete for the Big 12 and national championship. We never got that opportunity, but I know the team is excited about coming back next year and hopefully being to finish some unfinished business."
Not only did the Bears not get to finish what they started in 2020, it felt like they never really got out of the chute. Because of injuries, even with a deeper than usual roster of a dozen players, Boland was never able to put the lineup on the court that he had dreamed of back in January.
Jenson Brooksby, the nation's No. 1 recruit, came in with a turf toe injury in January and was still maybe a couple weeks from being able to get on the court for the first time as a collegiate player. Sophomore Adrian Boitan and freshman Alex Garcia had both battled back from injuries, while junior Matias Soto had some nagging injuries and then took off a week to join his native Chile for a Davis Cup qualifier against Sweden.
"I was really pleased with where we were and how well the team was coming together and the job some of our young players did early on without having an ideal amount of preparation," Boland said. "Adrian was starting to play some of his best tennis, and I was really hopeful that he would be at 100 percent come the conference season and the NCAAs."
Missing so many of the key pieces, Boland had other players like freshmen Sebastian Nothhaft, Rahul Dhokia and Garcia step up to contribute in a big way. They were a combined 14-5 in dual-match singles, with Dhokia and Nothhaft winning all nine of their matches at No. 6 singles.
"Sebastian Nothhaft came in as a freshman in January and was able to show us that he can compete right away and play at the highest level. I'm really excited about what he was able to do in a short time," Boland said.
"Rahul came in and didn't have a lot of time to get acclimated to the college experience, but he continued to get better and stronger and really started to show great signs of progress. Alex Garcia was a top recruit that came in in January and was out 10 weeks with an ankle injury. Unfortunately, we were just starting to see signs of improvement and him get into the sync of things when the season ended."
Another highlight of the spring was the development of junior Sven Lah, a doubles All-American as a sophomore who played predominantly in the bottom half of the singles lineup a year ago. This year, he was a perfect 10-0 at No. 2 and a combined 14-1 overall in dual-match singles, earning ITA Region Player to Watch honors and a No. 35 national ranking.
"I was thrilled with the development of Sven Lah, who became a top player for us and spent time as a top-20 player in the country," Boland said of Lah, who was a team-best 25-5 overall. "He's really developed his game over the course of the last year and a half to two years. He's such a professional in all aspects, and he was a great leader for us this year."
As healthy as he's been in his career, senior Constantin Frantzen was 9-1 in dual matches and got the clinching point against Illinois with a three-set victory at No. 4. Named the region's Most Improved Senior, Frantzen was paired with Lah in doubles and went 13-1 to earn a No. 11 national ranking.
"Coni Frantzen had come a long way," Boland said. "He had to sit out for quite some time over the last few years with a nagging shoulder injury, but he was at 100 percent and was starting to get some really good wins."
Grad transfer Ryan Dickerson from Duke was arguably one of the most consistent players in the lineup, compiling a 9-2 mark at Nos. 3 and 4 singles and 12-3 at No. 2 doubles with Soto.
"I feel like Coach Boland really put me in situations with individual training and just gave me opportunities where I had an opportunity to maximize myself and reach success," Dickerson said. "It's been a really good first year."
Dickerson and Frantzen, the lone seniors on the team, have committed to return to Baylor next year after the NCAA's decision to grant an extra year of eligibility for spring sports' athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the lingering questions for next year will be whether Brooksby decides to turn pro after just one semester of college, but "that's so far off, to be honest, I've kind of ignored the issue," Boland said. "We don't even know where pro tennis is right now. There are just so many unknowns."
Regardless, Boland says he was "excited about where our program was at the conclusion of this year."
"I thought we were just getting into position to make a great run," he said. "I think the guys are going to be more eager than ever to get started next year. As challenging as this time has been, I know we'll all come out of this situation better."
Players Mentioned
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