This week, I sat down with tennis player Xander Centenari '13 about his recent tournament win, his quirky health habits and the beginning of his first season as co-captain of his team.
You recently won the A Draw at the 2011 USTA Billie Jean King NTC Men's College Invitational after upsetting the number-one seed. What does this say about where your game is right now?
XC: I'd say that I put in a fair amount of work over the summer. I ended up deciding not to take courses over the summer, which was ideal for training. Putting in a lot of work and seeing it pay off was kind of cool.
You also competed in some low-level pro events this summer. How do you think that has changed the way you play the game?
XC: The competition is always good. It puts you in real pressure situations and the more often you can be in pressure situations, the better you'll be able to handle them down the road. Playing so many matches definitely increased my comfort level on the court.
I hear that you're somewhat of a health-nut
XC: That's actually a common misconception. I pretty much like to eat the exact opposite of what's recommended. I generally like to eat two breakfast bombs from the Hop before matches. The breakfast of champions.
This is your first season as co-captain, along with Michael Laser and '12 Chris Ho '12. Do you feel any added pressure being one of the leaders?
XC: Not really. The biggest thing about being a captain is trying to lead by example. I think that's something that our former captains Curtis Roby '11 and Steve Grief '11 were really able to do. I learned a lot from them over the past three years and I'm trying to follow in their footsteps.
This is your second season with Chris Drake as your head coach. Do you think that the team has fully adjusted to his style of coaching?
XC: It was a pretty smooth transition at the beginning of last year. He is a very personable guy and a very smart coach. The transition has been easy and he has done a lot for us only in a year.
Your team finished 13-7 overall and 4-3 in the Ivy League in last year's spring season. What are your goals for winter and spring seasons this year?
XC: Mentally, our team over the past year and a half has always been striving to build on whatever success that we've had. On a day-to-day basis, our main goal is to be better than we were the day before. Our ultimate goal is to win an Ivy League title, but the way to accomplish that is to constantly keep improving and building off of successes.
Last year, you often played doubles with Laser. I've heard that you took that relationship to the next level and that you two now live together. Do you think that's crossing the line between business and pleasure?
XC: The doubles game is not even a question of the individual skill level of the two players. It's all about the team chemistry. We felt the need to live together to improve and build on the chemistry we have developed over the last year.
You also live with a few of the other guys on the team. Out of all of y'all, who is the hardest to live with?
XC: Billy Strunk '12 is by far the hardest to live with. His consistently immaculate wardrobe choices make it difficult for the rest of us to have any self-confidence. I feel like I'm constantly living in his shadow.
I hear that some of the underclassmen are characters. Who do you think is the most out there?
XC: I definitely don't want to call anyone out by name. Let's just say that the '14s as a whole are an eclectic, diverse group, ranging from Charlottesville, Va., to middle of nowhere, Wisconsin. It has really brought a farmboy attitude to the team that we've been missing the last couple of years.