MyTennisHQ Interviews: Cameron Norrie

Quick Facts

• School: TCU (Texas Christian University)
• Years: 2014-2017 (turned pro after junior year)
• Current Job: Professional tennis player, ranked #77 in the world in singles (April 3rd 2020).

Bio

Born in August 23rd 1995 in South Africa. Son of a Welsh mother, Helen, and Scottish Father, David, Cameron Norrie is one of the most successful professional tennis players to come out of college tennis in the last five years. The British star turned pro following his junior season (2017) at TCU and quickly moved up the ATP rankings. He broke top 100 in may of 2018 and hasn’t left it since.

Cam’s interview is one of the most candid ones we got so far as he provides great insight for players looking to go to college tennis. Hope you enjoy it!

7 Questions With Cam Norrie

#1 What was your recruiting/school selection process like?

My college selection process was an interesting one. In the summer of 13’ i was talking to head coach at the uni of Michigan. I went on a visit to Ann Arbor following the us open juniors, for an outrageously fun weekend. It was a huge weekend of football where the wolverines were taking on the fighting Irish (Notre Dame) One of the kids on the team was from Nzl who I knew previously and he definitely showed me the ins and outs of college life. More so on the social side. I got on well with the head coach (berque) who seemed mellow and the Assistant at the time Wurtzman was a work horse on the crt. A good combo. Michigan has a phenomenal business school and I was playing well enough to know for sure I’d play in the line up and potentially obtain a solid degree. I committed to Michigan shortly after my visit and was ready to go the following year starting in the fall.

The summer of 14’ before I was ready to go to school, the head coach at Michigan got fired (unknown reason) so I decided to rethink my decision and quickly took visits to South Carolina, TCU, OU, Tennessee and Baylor. My TCU visit was wonderful, this little private school in the middle of the country. I knew I was going to play a lot of outdoor tennis which looking back was a wise move. Immediately I got on well with head coach (Roditi), we had similar ways about us. The thing that stuck with me about TCU is everyone I met was genuine, especially Roditi. I was there on a random Sunday in the summer and ended up kicking it with a couple of dudes on the tennis and track team, who to this day are some of best mates. I got extremely lucky with the assistant coach (Bowen) who came in the same time as me, who solely shaped my tennis career, along with my teammate at the time (Lugones) who is now my coach & mentor. I committed and signed to TCU a week before school started, I was a horned frog.

#2 What was your favorite moment/story/aspect of college?

I believe my favourite aspect about college is you are all in it together as a team. You get to work out, play tennis, compete, go out, all sharing the good and the bad together. My favourite moment was my freshman year, our team made the final four. It was all such a big deal to the seniors at the time and I could sense how proud everyone was. It was such a tightly knitted team. I was stoked for my roommate Guille who chopped everyone up the whole season only hitting slice backhands! We definitely had some good nights that year, and everyone had sense of Togetherness.

#3 How did college tennis prepare you for the rest of your career/life?

At college I just grew up a lot. Made mistakes that in the real world would have been costly but in college I had coaches and teammates around to help and we put each on the right path. In college you compete, I loved that environment and thrived with the competition. I learned to mentally dive deeper into having a pretty insane focus on the court. I am always trying to improve on. I’m currently playing pro right now.

#4 A lot of juniors and parents worry that tennis will suffer because of the academic demands of college. What advice would you give an 18-year old in terms of balancing academics and tennis?

For myself there was not too much stress in terms of managing tennis and academics. Just a little shock at the beginning to get organized and to get know how everything worked. In college everything is laid out for you, you just need to turn up and be present in classes and you’ll be fine. You almost get a high from ticking off all your daily routine. I would encourage picking a degree you find really interesting rather than picking business because it can make you the most money. I majored in sociology with a minor in business.

#5 Another thing we see parents worrying about is how the social component of college will affect their kids tennis. What would you tell an 18-year old going to college in regards to having fun without compromising their tennis/academics?

Enjoy the social side of college as much as you can. There’s only going to be 4 years of your life where you are going to be walking distance from your mates. Embrace that and you’ll be regretting you didn’t see your mates more often when you are finished. Work hard play hard mentality.

#6 Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently if you were starting college again today?

Honestly in my time at TCU, i had some regrets but everything was learning. I wish I had been a bit more interested in the academic side of things. When I was there I just wanted to practice, play matches and have a couple of beers with my roommates (Guille) (jerry) and chop them at fifa. One thing I did learn later on, I wish I had been more aggressive in bigger moments on the court. My freshman year I was passive during big points and definitely improved from there but I believe that the player that’s more aggressive usually comes out on top. This has been reinforced since becoming pro.

#7 In your case, why did you think that college tennis was a good option as opposed to going directly to the pro tour?

College tennis was one of the best decisions for me rather than turning pro right away. Firstly, mentally you get the chance to live a normal life doing what you like, meeting cool/likeminded people and traveling around the states competing against other schools. Everything is covered financially; you have this unique period of four years where education, tennis coaching, balls, stringing, accommodation and even food is all on the house. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get in shape, become more mature on and off the court and enjoy what any college has to offer.

Don’t worry f27 in Tulsa is not going anywhere. You have so much mental scarring from losing every other week in futures. Why not enjoy four years at college, become a beast physically and hit the tour running and raring to go. Ultimately very few turn pro, but that doesn’t mean, you can’t have a competitive and extremely enjoyable four years at college.

Quick Facts

• School: Usc
• Year Graduated: 2015
• Current Job: Professional Tennis Player, WTA #64 (April 1st 2020) Doubles

Bio

The Los Angeles native, Sabrina Santamaria is an incredibly accomplished tennis player. The Trojan won the 2013 NCAA doubles national championship and led her team to two Final Four team appearances.

In professional tennis, Santamaria is currently ranked top 70 in the world in doubles and was ranked as high as #384 in the world in singles.

Sabs is one of the rare cool Trojans we know (go bruins…) and we hope you enjoy her interview. Let’s get to it!

7 Questions With Sabrina Santamaria

#1 What was your recruiting/school selection process like?

My college recruiting process was a bit unorthodox– I committed to USC my sophomore year of high school. Growing up in Los Angeles and being first-generation American to immigrant parents, really made me want to stay close to home for college. Throughout my junior tennis years, it was between UCLA and USC mostly, and I thought I looked better in red, so I chose USC (just kidding). Both were great programs, but I knew the coaches much better at USC, and I had some of my best friends already there on the team, so I knew the team chemistry would be unmatched. During my sophomore year of high school, I had always reached out to the coaches and demonstrated how much I wanted to be a Trojan– I went to a lot of their matches at Marks Stadium and showed a ton of support for the program. That summer, the USC Assistant coach (West Nott), happened to be our Fed Cup coach for team Southern California at a national competition in San Francisco, and I told him I was ready to be a Trojan! Head Coach Richard Gallien offered me a scholarship by the end of the week, and to this day, I’m so thankful they took a chance on the kid from Griffith Park.

#2 What was your favorite moment/story/aspect of college?

I’ve had a plethora of favorite memories from college– making the Final Four twice, winning the NCAA doubles championship with my best friend, the endless dance parties and sleepovers with my teammates, it’s really difficult to pick my absolute favorite. But, I will say tearing my ACL during my junior year was one of my favorite memories (what??). Initially, I was devastated, bed-ridden while my teammates traveled without me, and questioned whether I could reach my peak playing potential once again. I used these months for self-reflection, focused on my studies (I changed majors during this time), went outside of my comfort zone and made an effort to meet people that weren’t athletes (it’s quite easy to stick within the athlete bubble). It was an amazing time to immerse myself in extracurriculars that didn’t involve sports or tennis– and I even met my fiancé! By the luck of the draw, I met Niklas a month after my surgery, while he was studying abroad at USC for the semester. From our first date on April 16th, 2014 to now being engaged with big plans for the future, tearing my ACL has truly been a blessing in disguise.

#3 How did college tennis prepare you for the rest of your career/life?

College tennis is the ultimate juggling act– with balancing academics, excelling on the court individually and with your team, and making time for a social life and family, it’s really not easy. College tennis has enabled me to become my own coach on tour, my own agent, and essentially my own business. It has taught me to be relentless, flexible, adaptable, and persevere through difficulties (as cliché as that sounds)– because there are no shortcuts in college tennis. During my time in college, I really took it upon myself to put in the work with extra training sessions, and especially used the weekends to go home and workout with my Dad (who’s my coach)– utilizing my time wisely and efficiently was the ultimate factor that propelled me to success. After graduating in 2015, I’ve gained skills in being a team leader and builder, strengthening my work ethic, and being versatile for any adversity that comes my way. College tennis has not only prepared me for professional tennis, but more importantly for my post-tennis career.

#4 A lot of juniors and parents worry that tennis will suffer because of the academic demands of college. What advice would you give an 18-year old in terms of balancing academics and tennis?

It’s tough to balance academics and tennis, but if you want to succeed, it’s so important to manage your time and have a good understanding of your own priorities. What might work for your teammate, might not work for you, so it’s really important to understand which routines and time management styles work best for you. Personally, I was never the type to be able to crush an essay in one night– I needed at least 3-4 days, but some people are able to succeed that way. I would advise 18-year olds to utilize every resource they can find, whether it be counseling, tutoring, or mentors, within their respective majors to help on the academic side. For the athletics side, utilize your advisors, coaches and teammates for advice as they’ve all been through it and are eager to help. Know that you’re never alone, your university community is there for you, don’t sweat the small stuff, and control things that are in your control.

#5 Another thing we see parents worrying about is how the social component of college will affect their kids tennis. What would you tell an 18-year old going to college in regards to having fun without compromising their tennis/academics?

To manage a social life coupled with academics and athletics, I think it’s really important to prioritize your goals and ambitions. Do you want to be an NCAA champion this season? Do you want to turn pro? Are you trying to move up in the lineup? When you have clear goals in mind, it becomes easier to prioritize your academics, athletics, and social life. With priorities and time management, you can certainly have a thriving social life. And it’s not all or nothing– you can still go out with your friends on a Friday night and have a good practice session on Saturday afternoon. The social component that comes with the college environment is unavoidable, and it’s really up to you in how you make those social decisions. It’s all about balance!

#6 Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently if you were starting college again today?

In hindsight, there’s not a whole lot that I would change about my college experience– I had a fantastic four years at USC. But I wish I took more time in understanding different career paths and focusing on self-growth earlier in my college career. I became super unhappy studying Human Biology in my first two years, because I thought a path in kinesiology was for me, simply because I had an athletic background. I changed my major during my junior year to International Relations, which suited me much better. With this change, I only had to stay an extra fall semester at SC, which was very manageable. If I had realized it sooner though, I probably could have completed a Master’s as well, but everything is more clearer in hindsight. And perhaps going through that change was all part of my journey and personal growth.

#7 In your case, why did you think that college tennis was a good option as opposed to going directly to the pro tour?

College tennis was an excellent option for me, instead of turning pro right out of high school. I have always wanted to go to college and compete on a team, because I find that I thrive in team environments and team competitions. College tennis has brought so many invaluable experiences to my life, and I would absolutely go to college and play for USC again if I could.
With regards to tennis, I was able to improve my mental strength, fitness, and developed intangible skills (they don’t call me Lob City for nothing), which has prepared me to succeed on the pro tour. Most importantly, I think college tennis allows you the time and resources to develop the mental aspect of the game and one’s maturity. The valuable skills you gain from college are unparalleled– learning how to be a team leader and builder, developing mental and physical strength, and persevering through the juggling act of being a student-athlete, truly prepares you for life.

Quick Facts

• School: Wake Forest
• Year Graduated: 2019
• Current Job: Professional Tennis

Bio

Petros Chrysochos, of Cyprus, achieved a career high ATP ranking of 378 in December of 2018. He currently sits at a ranking of 419. As a junior, Petros reached No. 19 in the world and was named Tennis Europe Under 16 Player of the Year in 2012. He participated in all four junior Grand Slam events.

In college, Petros most notably won the NCAA individual singles title alongside the team championships in 2018 as a junior. He returned to school for his senior year. He earned All-American status in singles all 4 years of his tenure at Wake Forest.

Petros also received multiple off-court and sportsmanship awards during his time in college. He was awarded ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year, Carolina Region Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award, and the ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship Award just to name a few.

7 Questions With Petros Chrysochos

#1) What was your recruiting/school selection process like?

I committed literally 2 weeks before the spring season started which was pretty late considering people commit years before they start school. I was only talking to/considering Wake Forest, nobody else. I did not really speak to any school other than Wake because I did not think I was going to go to school anyway.

My number 1 priority is the coach, so Tony Bresky did it for me. What was interesting for me is that I never visited, nor I was interested in any other school but Wake. It was either Wake or going pro and I think I picked the right one.

#2) What was your favorite moment/story/aspect of college?

The favorite moment would definitely be either the first ACC title or the National Championship title we won at home. To see so many people come together and celebrate such an achievement was incredible. By winning the title, it was like putting Wake Forest on a map. Wake was never a ‘tennis school’ and we kind of made it like that. Football and basketball always took over with so many legends playing the games but we did something special during that time.

One quick story I could share is one on the day before the final of the National Championship at home. The whole team had been playing Fortnite the whole year with me being one of the worst players by far. I never won a solo game and I decided to wake up on the day of the final and play one last game before the match to calm the nerves. Surprisingly I won haha. Nobody believed me but Skander could confirm since we lived together. Right before the match, I told the guys that it’s a sign from above that it is meant to be simply because I won my first solo game. So this should be a ‘piece of cake’ for us. If I could win a solo we can win this match. The match was obviously a battle as expected but we came on top. To this day I still remember that Fortnite game and I always joke that it is the reason we won the title.

#3) How did college tennis prepare you for the rest of your career/life?

Well, college in general is definitely not a great representation of life. I knew that since I played professionally before coming to college. But college tennis taught me lessons that no university ever could. It made me tougher as a person and as a tennis player. It taught me how to be more competitive and most importantly that life doesn’t care about your excuses. Life still goes on so don’t complain and figure it out by yourself. That’s the number 1 lesson for me. Right now I am playing professionally and I am ranked just outside the top 400. I also own a playing card company called Dealt Company. We design, customize, and deliver premium quality playing cards for small or big businesses. I started this company when I was at Wake and we are still growing strong today.

#4) A lot of juniors and parents worry that tennis will suffer because of the academic demands of college. What advice would you give an 18-year old in terms of balancing academics and tennis?

I mean tennis will definitely suffer if you are studying pre-med at Columbia and also aiming for a 4.0 GPA. It really comes down to what your goals are. Tennis might suffer but you might be okay with that. What I always tell kids is that if you finish with a 3.8 or 3.4 or 3.0 GPA your life will not be that different in the long term. You will still make it if you are tough enough and eventually figure your life out. You are expected to know what you want to do with your life but you are not supposed to know. That’s my take.

#5) Another thing we see parents worrying about is how the social component of college will affect their kids tennis. What would you tell an 18-year old going to college in regards to having fun without compromising their tennis/academics?

I know many kids that play college tennis pick colleges based on location and parties etc. They can do that of course but one piece of advice that I can give is that if you want to play professionally one day and you choose to go to college, you must go to a school that has no distractions at all. For me, Wake was perfect. If I went to the University of Miami for instance, I don’t think my tennis would be the same, not because of the level of tennis or coaching, but because there are too many distractions other than tennis. This does not mean that one cannot thrive in Miami, but the players need to make sure they have a balanced life and stay away from temptations.

#6) Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently if you were starting college again today?

One thing I would change is maybe the way I treated some subjects I did not really care about during the first couple of semesters. If I tried 10% more than I did I could have gotten way better grades without much effort. Not that it matters too much or it is the end of the world but it is the only thing I would do differently.

#7) In your case, why did you think that college tennis was a good option as opposed to going directly to the pro tour?

Well, I think my case was a little different than most players. When I was 18/19 I had to make the decision of going pro or going to the army to serve the Cyprus National guard which is a 2-year mandatory service. I wanted to postpone that because going to the army would mean leaving pro tennis for a while. So, the only option left for me was to go to college and avoid the army so I can keep playing tennis. I didn’t know much about it but after talking to some coaches I got a better idea.

I was also encouraged after seeing Noah Rubin winning Wimbledon and then committing to Wake Forest. The most important values that stayed with me because of college is learning to work together in tough situations. Creating and solving conflict is extremely important in my opinion and there is plenty of that in college. Whether that is against other teams, professors or coaches. All the memories and the friendships will truly stay forever and I think if you ask most student-athletes, this is something they will all say if they made the right decision.

In terms of my own personal development, I did feel like a better player after college than before. Not necessarily because of my level but because of everything else. Felt more mature, ready to take on the world, went through a lot with the team, lost some but won more which is important. I grew as a person and that helped my tennis significantly more than anything else. During school, I started a business as well which I love and now with the virus, I am working on that and making some money on the side. This is another reason I believe college is important in so many ways.

Thanks so much to Petros for taking the time to answer these questions for us. Keep following along all month for more interviews with great players and people.