By Jake Markowitz
The Iowa men’s tennis team is in the middle of a two-week break, but that doesn’t mean the team is going to actually take a break.
The Hawkeyes (6-3) are coming off two-straight weeks on the road, but relaxing is not in the plan.
“Over the next two weeks, we are going to really focus on our fitness and movement,” head coach Ross Wilson said. “In addition, we will do more individual sessions to focus on each player’s game and making improvements on weaknesses we have noticed over the last few weeks.”
It is true the team has shown some weaknesses as the season has gone on, one being consistency. Iowa has not endured a winning or losing streak for six-consecutive games, dating back to Jan. 29, when its three-game winning streak to start the season came to end at the hands of Mississippi State.
Although the team doesn’t want to lose focus, coming home and enjoying a break does have some benefits. Iowa has had matches in the West for the past two weekends. Both matches were grueling, with each team having firepower. Oregon has a top-50 singles player and doubles pair, and Denver has the No. 34 doubles tandem and three-time Summit League Player of the Week Yannik James.
“We are really match-tough right now,” freshman Jason Kerst said. “The week off will be very beneficial.”
Wilson believes the team deserves the break. He has commended the players on the energy they have displayed, describing the mindset the team has going into a matchup as similar to going into a “battle.”
The Hawkeyes will use the break to focus on their individual weaknesses they have noticed. The Hawkeyes hope their weaknesses can become strengths with a two-fer next on the schedule. Iowa will host Utah and Southern Illinois on Friday.
Breaks in schedules such as this one always bring up a great opportunity to work on the little things that are involved in every tennis match.
When a team is traveling and playing every weekend, it’s easy for the players to get swept up in the routine. Now, they have a chance to refine their skills.
“We are practicing very hard each day,” junior Josh Silverstein said. “It will pay off.”
Keeping this mindset will be crucial for the Hawkeyes for more than just the next matches as the beginning of the nonconference season wraps up and Big Ten play approaches. Iowa is set to kick off conference play with a third-straight home match on March 5 against Wisconsin.
The match against Utah is a big one — the Utes have five of the top-20 ranked players in the Mountain Region. It will be a great tune-up the Big Ten. In the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, the Big Ten has seven teams ranked in the top 45.
“We really need to be at 100 percent physically and mentally for our next home weekend against a tough Utah and Southern Illinois team on Friday and our Big Ten opener against Wisconsin,” Wilson said.
