Roby said he is optimistic for the season, noting that he and Greif hope to be First Team All-Ivy selections, an honor that is announced in the spring.
"I think big things are in store for the Roby-Greif team," Roby said. "[We] started off a little slow in Chicago, but the Roby-Greif lost a total of three games this weekend in two matches, which is pretty unheard of at the number one doubles spot."
Their pairing traces back to the beginning of last season, after Ari Gayer '09 Roby's former doubles partner graduated from the College. Greif said that when former men's tennis coach Chuck Kinyon reshuffled the doubles pairings, placing the new duo together was a clear choice.
"The Roby-Greif has been a reputable name in Ivy tennis ever since," Roby said.
The addition of new head coach Chris Drake has contributed to the level of excitement surrounding the team's season. Although Roby joked about Greif's praise of Drake saying that Greif may "even have a little bit of a man-crush" on him the new coach has helped the duo improve.
"Our new coach Chris Drake is the man," Greif said. "He is a great guy. I am extremely happy with his leadership and knowledge of tennis."
Drake said Roby and Greif's chemistry and on-court energy are major contributing factors to their success.
"They know each other's games really well," Drake said. "They mesh really well."
As team captains, the duo usually leads the team huddle before matches, using the routine to amp themselves and everyone else up before playing. Greif said he also adds other activities to his pre-match routine.
"[I like] to watch [NFL running back] Adrian Peterson highlights," he said. "It makes [me] feel more like a man."
Teammate Chris Ho '12 said that the duo's attitude on the court underlines its success.
"What sets them apart is that they're very competitive," he said. "They both just hate losing."
Roby and Greif attribute their on-court success partly to their complementary styles of play.
"The Roby-Greif strength lies in two parts," Roby said. "The Roby is really good at returning the ball and getting it low, and the Greif is really good at pushing over to the net and cutting off volleys."
Greif said his serve helps set the tempo for the duo's play, which is also tempered by Roby's on-court response to hits.
"When the Roby gets the return low and the Greif serves well, the Roby-Greif is very hard to beat," he said.
Despite their aggressive mentality, Roby and Greif also enjoy themselves on the court, Drake said.
"They have a lot of fun when they're out there playing," Drake said. "And they tend to play their best when they're having fun out there and playing with a lot of energy."
Roby said he is good friends with Greif off the court, adding that the two lived together last summer while interning in New York City.
Roby and Greif will attempt to help turn around a program that has sat near the bottom of the League in recent seasons. Although the Big Green improved to sixth place last season, Roby hopes for further improvement.
"I think this year we're going to try to take an even bigger step," he said last month.
The team will next compete on Feb. 18, at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in Cambridge, Mass.
