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Former Cavalier All-American Brian Vahaly has been playing professional tennis since graduation from the University in 2001. He has been ranked as high as No. 64 in the world in singles and has played in all four grand slams. The Atlanta native came out to see the Cavaliers play on their trip to Georgia Tech last weekend and sat down for a question and answer session.
How is life on tour different than life playing college tennis?
– The biggest difference is just the schedule. For fourty weeks a year you are competing, instead of 20 or 25 matches a year. There is a completely different focus. Tennis is your primary focus instead of one of many focuses. In college, you end up balancing classes and a social life with tennis. On tour, you can focus more on your game, but you also spend a lot of your time in hotels and airports.
What aspect of college tennis do you miss the most?
– I really miss the team aspect of college tennis. I was so close with my teammates. I see these guys out here rooting for each other and pushing each other and I remember that from my college career. On tour, you are out there for yourself. In college, you have teammates that are relying on you and that is something that makes college tennis special.
This is the first time in a while you have seen the Cavaliers play. What are your thoughts on where the program is now?
– This team has so much more depth. They have great talent, all the way down the lineup to 5 and 6. I am a few years removed from college now, but these guys have been very receptive to me and I have tried to help them out. Whether it is advise on making the transition to the pros or just tips on how to make their game better. They are a confident group that has the talent to do some great things.
You had a chance to talk to the team after practice yesterday. What type of advice did you give them?
– I told them that they have a terrific opportunity this season. They were preseason No. 1 and they have had a few losses this season. But there is still plenty of time in the season and they shouldn’t worry about those losses. They still have the ability to win a national title.
How do you feel that a number of your school records are in jeopardy by guys on the current team?
– I haven’t looked back at too many of my records. I want these guys to do well because it looks better to have a lot of guys at the top of the record book instead of just one guy. That speaks to how strong the program is. I have a lot of awards and honors from college, and I will never forget them. I am more interested now in seeing the current team compete for national titles as a team. I knew a lot of those records wouldn’t last. I played No. 1 all four years, and it is tough to win there. Now there are guys like Somdev and Treat that are really talented and because of the depth of the team have gotten to play lower in the lineup. And that is great because when UVa does well, it really makes me feel good.
What are some of the differences in the program from when you played to today?
– For one, the budget is bigger. These guys can travel all over the country and play the best competition. That’s why they have played something like 14 teams in the top 20. The new indoor facility is another huge improvement. Virginia, with the strength of tennis and academics, is the total package. Because of that, recruiting is better. Doug and Treat were both ranked No. 1 in the nation in juniors. These are the things you do to build a quality program.
Do you get back to Charlottesville very often?
– Not as much as I like. I love Charlottesville. It is sometimes tough to go back because I realize I miss it so much. I had so much fun going to UVa. When I go back, and walk on the lawn, it’s hard when you realize that those days are behind you. I love UVa, and my house is full of Virginia stuff. It is such a big part of my life.
What was the best part of your UVa experience?
– What makes UVa so special is the people. Sure there is the beautiful grounds and the strong academics, but what sticks out to me is the people. I think of how close I got to my teammates, to my fraternity brothers, to people in my classes, to the professors. There are lots of people I met at UVa that I still keep in touch with. It is a unique community. There is a harsh reality when you hit the real world, because you take the UVa experience for granted. You don’t realize how great you had it at UVa until you leave.