Men’s tennis coach Jeff Brown knows a good doubles team when he sees one. In the case of the men’s tennis team, that pair is Bryan Fisher and Jason Hazley.
The combination of Fisher and Hazley has yielded much success for the Tiger tennis team. The quick 2-0 start this season for the team is the 18th consecutive year the team has started so well.
Individually, Fisher, a junior from Nashville, Tenn., is ranked 101st in the nation and is 4-9 in singles competition this season. Hazley, a sophomore from Bradenton, Fla., is ranked 124th in the nation and is 9-7 on the season.
Put them together and the team has a recipe for success.
“Their game styles complement each other,” Brown said. “Bryan’s more of a spiker, and Jason’s got a little more finesse with returns.”
As doubles partners this season, Fisher and Hazley have ripped off 11 wins in doubles matches compared to only two losses. They are ranked 24th in the country and walked away from the Southeastern Conference Indoor championship as champions.
At the SEC Indoors, the duo cruised through the competition, finishing 5-0 overall. They defeated teams from Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Vanderbilt. The pair also beat teammates Peter Richman and Paul White in the quarterfinals of doubles play.
Brown said the two complement each other so well because they bring different professional-like qualities to the court.
“Bryan is more in the style of a Patrick Rafter, a pure serve-and-volley type style,” he said. “Jason has got a little more finesse, more like an [Andre] Agassi, where’s he’s got a big forehand and more from the baseline type style.”
The next rankings do not come out until Feb. 26, and Brown believes Fisher and Hazley will jump quite a bit when the new rankings are released.
“Their doubles ranking probably will move somewhere near the top 10,” Brown said.
Brown also attributes the success of the rest of the team to the leadership Fisher and Hazley have provided. The second doubles team of Sebastian Rutka and Cory Ross is ranked No. 53 in the nation.
“It’s always good to have a team ranked that highly at the top of the doubles lineup,” Brown added. “That means your second team has a chance to practice against them everyday.”
Brown believes the balance the duo brings to each other on the court factors into their success.
“Bryan has a little bit of a calming effect on Jason,” Brown said. “Jason sometimes can be a little emotional when’s he playing singles.
“And Jason adds a little fire to Bryan,” Brown said. “Bryan can sometimes go along a little bit too level.”
Brown knows that the success the pair shares on the court translates into their off the court success as well.
“They’re both real good kids,” he said. “I think Jason listens to a little louder music, and Bryan’s a little more mellow.”