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06/08/2017 12:00 AMRob Israel says that he’s learned a lot about what it means to be a good teammate who lends a helping hand to his colleagues as a member of the Tigers’ boys’ tennis squad. However, Rob is more than just a good teammate; he’s also one of the best doubles players in the state.
Rob, a junior who mans the No. 1 doubles position for Hand, started playing tennis at a young age at the Madison Racquet & Swim Club, where he developed a deep appreciation for the sport. After reaching the reaching the quarterfinals of the doubles draw at last year’s Class L State Championship alongside Noah Gulla, Rob has posted a personal record of 20-4 this spring, while making it back to the Class L quarters—this time with Alex Bueno. Along the way, Rob helped Hand win the SCC Division I title last season and then post regular season record of 17-0 this year.
“I love that tennis is both an individual and a team sport. You can play for yourself on the court or for a team other times. I like that dual aspect feature,” says Rob, an All-SCC honoree who also qualified for the State Open with Bueno. “A big thing for me this year has been just practicing. There have been shakeups with who I play with, but I just stick to the basics, and learn from the losses. I stick to the training and go to the basics when I’m down in a match and execute.”
Rob’s rigorous regiment of repetition has served him quite well throughout his tennis career, along with the family aspect of playing for and helping out the person next to you.
“I’ve gotten better talent wise over the years with playing tennis five or six days a week,” Rob says. “I’ve also learned how to be a part of a team and be a role model. Even if I lose my match, I can help someone on the team by cheering them on in their match. The biggest thing I’ve learned is how to be a team player.”
Hand Head Coach Dawn Fagerquist has certainly taken note of how Rob has always put the needs of his teammates ahead of his own during his time with the Tigers.
“Rob takes his role on the team very seriously,” says Fagerquist. “He puts his team first, he works hard, and he dedicates himself to the season.”
Rob knows that tennis is a mental game that’s played just as much in one’s own head as it is against the person on the other side of the court. That’s why Rob makes sure that he never gets too up or too down during the heat of battle.
“Staying calm on the court is definitely a big quality to have. When I was 12 or 13 years old, I used to get riled up out there,” says Rob. “It’s also about being friendly and being true to yourself. You can’t let emotions get to you, because then you’ll crash and burn. The worst thing you can do is beat yourself.”
Rob adds that it’s especially important to stay calm while playing the doubles game, because both players always have a responsibility to keep their teammate on an even keel.
“I like playing doubles a lot more, because you have someone else with you, and talking to whoever I’m playing with has helped me stay calm,” says Rob, who thanks his parents, Ami and Gary, along with his teammates and all of his past and present coaches. “My partners have helped me keep my head in the game, and I always want to do the same for them.”