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06/29/2017 12:00 AMRecent Daniel Hand graduate Ankita Roychoudhury enjoyed a quality career with the Tigers’ girls’ tennis team, making a significant contribution in the singles lineup during each of her four seasons on the squad. Ankita progressed from competing at the No. 4 spot as a freshman to become Hand’s top singles player the past two years. During the recent season, she helped the Tigers finish with an unblemished record on their way to winning the SCC and Class M state crowns.
“My freshman year, I played 4 singles. [Head Coach Kitty Palmer] made the right decision putting me there, because I was new to high school, and it introduced me to how everything works. My sophomore year, I was 2 singles, and I was No. 1 for my junior and senior year,” Ankita says. “Every season and every move up was a new challenge. It was a new set of players I had to get used to playing against.”
Coach Palmer was instantly impressed with the composure that Ankita displayed both on and off the court in her freshman season. As a result, Palmer knew that Ankita would be a valuable asset to the team throughout her time with the Tigers.
“As a freshman, she was very consistent and, her sophomore year, she moved up to play No. 2 singles against a lot tougher competition, and she played quite well. Her last two years at No. 1, she was playing the toughest players on everybody’s team. Her consistency was still there, but she had to develop some winning shots, some volleys, and better serves, so she could play more offense,” says Palmer. “She has great composure, good patience, and, whether she wins or loses, always has a smile on her face. She’s a great sportsman, and we wouldn’t have had the success we had this year without her.”
The success that Coach Palmer is alluding to included a record of 22-0 for the Tigers this spring. Hand wound up edging Amity 4-3 to win the SCC Tournament title, after which the team defeated Guilford 5-2 in the Class M State Tournament final. Ankita was proud to contribute to an undefeated season, while leading the Tigers as one of their senior captains.
“All three seniors were captains, and I think the team dynamic was incredible. The three of us were all good friends, so it was easy to be leaders together. Everyone on the team was motivated to have a good season,” says Ankita, who captained the squad alongside fellow seniors Renee Tracy and Grace Squitiero. “The fact that we managed to win [SCCs and states] was a surreal feeling. We never underestimated any team, and it was a rush of emotion. Our coach makes sure we work hard and put enough time and effort in, so it was all well-deserved for us.”
Ankita has been a singles player since she started playing tennis at age four. Although Coach Palmer had her play some doubles at practice just in case the team needed her there, Ankita loves controlling the court on her own, while responding to the challenges that come with life on the solo circuit.
“I’m more of a solo player in terms that I like thinking for myself and developing my own strategy. Since I was young, my dad helped me with strategy, and I love having my independence on the court,” she says. “It’s a weird double standard, because you’re playing for your team, but by yourself. What attracted me to singles was learning to be mentally tough. I can’t rely on somebody else. I have to dig myself out of holes, and I like that challenge.”
Coach Palmer says that Ankita possesses a great all-around tennis game, but believes that attacking may be her strongest suit. Ankita says she likes playing tennis that much more when she’s in attack mode.
“Coach always encouraged me to go to the net more often, and I’ve started to use that strategy a lot more and it helped,” says Ankita. “When I play like that, I enjoy the game more. Other coaches have noticed that change in my game, so my coach keeps encouraging it.”
Now that her tenure with Hand girls’ tennis has come to a close, Ankita is excited to continue her career on the court in college. Ankita will play at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena next year, and feels that the school is going to be a great fit for her in all areas.
“I emailed the coach and asked if she was interested in more girls for the team, and she emailed me back that she was. I went to California to visit and see the team, talked about my game style, and she made me feel right at home, so it was very encouraging,” Ankita says. “She wanted me on the team. I looked at the school for academics and it’s a level of college I wanted to go to. Tennis comes second to academics, but I’m overjoyed that tennis worked out, because I’m not ready to give it up. I think I’m going to have a lot of fun over the next four years. That school is the perfect package.”