With the women's tennis season getting underway on Saturday with a 5-2 win against Temple University, I sat down with Molly Scott '11 to chat about her game and her final season at Dartmouth. Scott who was chosen as a First Team All-Ivy selection for both singles and doubles the past two years comes into this season ranked the fourth best singles player in the Northeast Region and, along with teammate Melissa Matsuoka '14, as part of the sixth best doubles pairing.
How does it feel to be one of the highest-ranked players in the Northeast Region?
MS: It's exciting. I hope to improve on it by the end of the year, but it's a good group of girls who are ranked in the region and most of them I've played with throughout these four years it's a lot of upperclassmen. A ranking doesn't mean much until the end of the season when you prove it, so I hope to build upon the ranking that I already have.
Do you feel any extra pressure with these preseason expectations?
MS: Not really. I think if anything is extra it's just knowing that I'm a senior, and trying not to think, Oh this the last time I'm playing this team,' or, This is my last first match.'
How would you characterize your play style?
MS: I would say I am kind of an aggressive baseliner. I mainly try to use my groundstrokes to get myself a short ball or come into the net.
What are you hoping to accomplish this season?
MS: I would just like to complete the season, know I've done everything I could do to be the best player I could be for the season. I would like to be First Team All-Ivy in both singles and doubles, and I definitely think that's possible.
You're ranked highly in both singles and doubles. Which do you enjoy more?
MS: I've always thought of myself as more of a singles player but, coming to college and learning more about doubles, I definitely think doubles is more fun. I enjoy playing both.
How are the team's prospects this year?
MS: I think we are doing well. We have a strong class of freshmen. We actually had our first match today, and we did pretty well. People are, for the most part, healthy and training really hard, so we have high expectations.
Are there any matches you are looking forward to?
MS: Not really. I mean Harvard [University]'s going to be my last college match so that's going to be a big one, and then it's always nice to beat Harvard. I think just the Ivy [League games] in general have an extra meaning.
Any plans to continue your tennis career after Dartmouth?
MS: Yes, actually I'm planning on trying to play professionally for about a year after college. Depending how it goes maybe shorter or longer, just seeing how it goes.
Do you have anything lined up already?
MS: I've looked at the tournament schedule and kind of mapped out one. I'll start out playing small $10,000 tournaments in random places throughout the [United States] and hopefully as I earn points I can travel abroad and play in bigger tournaments. There's a series in eastern Europe and also in Australia that I'm hoping to play in November.
Are you a tennis fan off the court?
MS: Yes. I've been watching the Australian Open day and night.
Do you model yourself after anyone?
MS: I don't know if I model my game. I always enjoyed watching Martina Hingis because I'm not the tallest person, and she was about my height and was number one in the world. And then I really like watching Kim Clijsters also.
Who do you have winning the Australian Open?
MS: [Clijsters] for the women and then for the men, [Rafael] Nadal. But I'd really like [Roger] Federer to win. Are you a Nadal fan?
I'm an Andy Roddick fan. Wouldn't mind seeing Novak Djokovic win either.
MS: He does too many impersonations I think he thinks he's too cool. Maybe [Andy] Murray, but I love Federer.
