Stefan Szacinski has always been a warm weather type of guy.While his family members are weathering the winter months in his hometown of Adelaide, Australia, the freshman tennis player has adjusted well to his new surroundings in only a few short weeks with the LSU tennis team. The newcomer advanced to the Flight B championship Sept. 13 at the Rice Invitational, before falling to Southern Methodist’s Darren Walsh in three sets, 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (10-4). Szacinski experienced growing pains and struggled in his first two collegiate matches of his career but found ways to win — something that impressed LSU tennis coach Jeff Brown. “He competes very well, and he doesn’t get overly frustrated,” said Brown, who is in his 12th year as LSU’s coach. “His game style is evolving. The day after we got back from the tournament we made some really positive changes in his game.” Some of those changes mean working on a stronger forehand, something he will need to combat the rigors of Southeastern Conference opponents in the spring duel season. “The Rice Invitational was a good stepping stone to gauge where I’m at and see what I can improve to be ready in the spring,” Szacinski said in his thick Australian accent.Although the order of the seasons is switched in Australia — it’s technically winter there — Szacinski hasn’t had any problem adapting to the climate and near triple-digit degree heat in Baton Rouge.The dog days of summer in Louisiana during August and even into September are eerily similar to the warm climate he dealt with in Australia.  Brown was impressed when Szacinski excelled in conditioning drills at the start of fall practice last week. “It’s like he’s been running through the Outback his whole life when he hit the track the first couple times,” he said. “He’s very fit, and he’s not bothered by the heat.” Szacinski figures to be an integral part of an LSU team that lost All-American Michael Venus and James Cluskey last May to graduation. While sophomore Neal Skupski and junior Sebastian Carlsson figure to replace Venus and Cluskey at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots, Szacinski could see an extensive role in the No. 3 or No. 4 spot.”He’s going to be really good once he’s progressed as a tennis player in these next four years,” said Skupski, who earned All-America status last year as Venus’ doubles partner. “He’s got a good all-around game … and loves to attack the net and finish points off early.”Skupski came to LSU last year with a situation almost identical to Szacinski’s. Both entered the fall season with limited experience, and Skupski took advantage of practice time and tournaments, enabling him to form the No. 4 doubles team in the country with Venus. Skupski said if Szacinski comes to practice every day and listens to advice from Brown and assistant coach Danny Bryan, he should be fine. “When I came to LSU, I hadn’t played in a lot of tournaments, but being in practice with the older guys, they give you little tips that you don’t get regularly,” Skupski said.Brown has been overly impressed by Szacinski’s maturity level and ability to adjust to a completely different level of competition.”When you’re coming from another country, you’re not sure if [the competition level] is that high of a standard, and they quickly find out it’s a really high level,” Brown said. “It’s important to feel the level and sense what’s out there and what improvements they need to make.”Szacinski grew up playing tennis in Adelaide, a city in southern Australia that boasts the fifth largest population in the country.When he wasn’t playing tennis, he spent his time idolizing eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi and Australian great Patrick Rafter. Szacinski nearly fell in Brown’s lap after the LSU coach received a call from a former teammate last fall. “I was contacted by Roderick Dyke, and he mentioned he had a player and told me a lot about the qualities of this kid, like really broke it down with his game style but also said he was their leader of their junior program with his character,” Brown said of Szacinski. Szacinski had always dreamed of going to a big SEC school and was sold without even taking a visit. “I heard really good things about LSU,” he said. “I pretty much came here blind, but I’m loving it so far.”—-Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]