Comfortable.
That’s the word LSU junior tennis player Kaitlin Burns uses to describe herself while on the court.
“I’ve been playing tennis since I was nine, so it’s just natural now,” Burns said.
But comfortable isn’t the word to describe Burns when she’s asked to talk about her accomplishments.
Hesitant to boast about herself, the three-year starter is even more unwilling to say a bad word about her teammates.
“She’s one of the nicest people on the team,” said sophomore Ariel Morton, Burns’ current doubles partner. “She’s always looking out for everyone, but she works really hard.”
Working hard is something Burns takes pride in.
“I fight really hard on the court,” Burns said. “I go three sets all the time. I feel like I’m the one that everyone just expects to be out there for five hours.”
Admittedly “freaking out” about aspects of her game that might not be right, Burns said she tries to go hard every day at practice.
“My very first match, my serve was horrific, but I went and worked on my serve a lot,” Burns said. “I’m a little bit more focused this year, and I’ve gotten my serve together and my game together.”
Burns has the most match experience on the team behind senior Whitney Wolf, leaving her to inherit a leading role on the team next season.
“I’m definitely looking forward to being a leader next year and have people follow my actions,” Burns said. “But I don’t feel a lot of pressure. I feel like it’s expected because of my experience.”
But Burns’ teammates said she has already established herself as a leader.
“She’s definitely one of the leaders on the team,” Morton said. “She’s a big part of the team. Any time any of us need advice on experience or anything like that, we go to her and [Wolf].”
Coming out of high school, the Wilmington, N.C., native was a four-star recruit and No. 52 on tennisrecruiting.net’s top-100 players list.
Burns started her career playing on court two as a true freshman – a tall order in collegiate tennis.
“Gaining that experience at that high of a position and being that young really helped her out,” said LSU women’s tennis coach Tony Minnis. “It has translated into more confidence and maturity.”
Burns struggled in her first two seasons with a 32-42 combined record but has turned the tide this season with a 9-6 dual match record – the first winning record of her career.
Burns is 7-6 on court three this season and 2-0 on court two, and she’s only two wins shy of the 50-career-win milestone.
Wolf is the only other current player to reach the mark. Burns has a chance to accomplish the feat this weekend with matchups against Mississippi State on Friday and Ole Miss on Sunday.
“She deserves it,” Minnis said. “But I don’t think she focuses on numbers because she just focuses on giving a consistent effort every time [on the court].”
 
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Contact Spencer Hutchinson at [email protected]