Swedish sophomore tennis player Simon Freund spent his freshman year adjusting to American culture and college tennis, but he carries heavier expectations on his shoulders this season.
The International Tennis Federation ranked Freund as No. 110 in juniors before his collegiate career, after finishing with a singles record of 42-17 and a doubles record of 23-16.
At LSU, he competed in all but five competitions, finished with a singles record of 16-12 and showed important late-game qualities when he advanced to the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
“The biggest difference is the competitiveness and level of other players here in the U.S.,” Freund said. “We also practice much harder and more frequently than in Sweden. We would usually practice about 15 hours a week, while here at LSU, we practice for at least 20 hours a week and have open practice after every session.”
International student-athletes from northern Europe encounter more than a culture shock when coming to LSU — they face a humidity shock as well.
Swedish weather forced Freund to practice more on inside courts, while LSU mainly relied on its outside courts until the new practice facility was finished earlier this semester.
“I would look like I took a bath 30 minutes into practice,” Freund said. “You just have to get used to it. In worst cases, it helps thinking about that my opponent is just as tired as I am, if not more.”
Coach Jeff Brown also mentioned the influence climate had on Freund’s freshman year, but he assured it would not be as big of a transition for him this year because Freund knew what to expect.
With the start of his sophomore year, Freund said he is ready for the season and looks to improve his role on the team.
“I spent my freshman year focused on learning from my teammates and getting used to college tennis, but I feel ready to take on some leadership and help new players both on and off the court, now,” Freund said. “I think some responsibility would definitely help my development both as a person and as a player, too.”
With three seniors and two juniors on the team, Freund said he wants to gain as much knowledge from them as possible until it’s his time to follow in their veteran footsteps.
The coaching staff is on the same page, expecting continued growth and rewards for his hard work.
“Simon is very unique,” Brown said. “His physical skills come from different places. He has a gymnastic background, which gives him advantages in tennis when it comes to flexibility and athleticism. He also developed greatly throughout his freshman year and came up with some really big wins for us. I can see that he is settled in. Nothing is new to him anymore.”
The team’s goal is to be ranked 16th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Freund said he believes they have the potential to be in the top 10, but he does not want to be too optimistic after last year’s disappointing season.
“I have big expectations,” Freund said. “We have a good team, and I feel in good shape. I am excited for the season.”