The Florida State men’s tennis team kicks off this exciting 2023 season on an impressive winning streak. The Seminoles demonstrated their skill and confidence in their season opener on Jan. 6 in Honolulu, Hawaii, as Florida State beat Hawaii 7-0 on Friday and defeated California 5-2 on Sunday.
With an intense season opening weekend, it can be difficult to play back-to-back games. “We’ve been working on our strength and conditioning to be ready,” senior Louris Pourroy said. “Most of the guys played a tournament at home to prepare for the season.”
The two wins proved to be a massive change of momentum as Garnet and Gold continued to dominate their two subsequent matchups, defeating No. 7 Georgia 5-2 and Florida Atlantic 6-1. Victory in Georgia was exhilarating as the ‘Noles defeated this talented team last season and advanced to Round 16 of the NCAA tournament (the first time since 2009).
“The Georgia game was the most amazing feeling when we beat them on their home court when they were No. 11 in the country,” said Pourroy.
The ‘Noles are looking to emulate those rewarding emotions through a group performance this season. “As a team, we’re aiming for ACC Champions, which puts us in a good position for the national championships,” said Pourroy.
Florida State will be well-equipped to embrace their competitive ACC schedule if they continue to be physically and mentally sharp in every game. The ‘Noles will face 14 teams that competed in the 2022 NCAA championships.
“The mindset is to take it step by step in every game because we have a team with a lot of potential,” Pourroy said. “I think we can go quite far this year and get a good result.”
Pourroy’s talent will be a key factor in helping the ‘Noles thrive this season. The determination and sacrifice Pourroy has put into the game of tennis demonstrates his on-court accomplishments.
Pourroy didn’t know if he would play at a major university when he started playing tennis. “I started playing tennis in France, my home country, and at first I didn’t know I was going to college,” said Pourroy.
As a young athlete, he had a great understanding of the game which made him one of the best junior players in the world. Pourroy wanted to continue his tennis skills at the collegiate level in order to feel the sense of camaraderie that a university tennis program brings. “When I received the offer from the state of Florida, I thought it would be a good opportunity, so I’m grateful to be part of this team now,” said Pourroy.
Pourroy’s first season as a Seminole was cut short when the COVID-19 pandemic ended her spring season. As a freshman, adversities like the pandemic aren’t usually in the lineup, but that didn’t stop Pourroy from committing to the game.
“As a first year, you’re new and it’s quite difficult, especially with COVID, but you learn, practice a lot, gain experience and work hard,” Pourroy said.
Since Pourroy’s involvement in Florida State tennis, he has had many awards under his belt. In 2021, Pourroy led the Seminoles in both singles and doubles victories and was selected to the 2022 All-ACC First Team.
These achievements reflect the strength this program maintains and the bond these athletes share. “They have been very supportive and I am grateful to have people like that. We have good chemistry everywhere, which helps on and off the pitch,” said Pourroy. The close connection Pourroy and his teammates share is why this team consistently outperforms their opponents, regardless of their placement.