Sumitra Rao thinks practice made her perfect. Actually, Rao isn’t perfect, but her tennis record, 6-0, is.
The senior from Madras, India is one of three members of the women’s tennis team whom are undefeated. Senior Sabrina Lindemann and sophomore Marlene Dirnstorfer are also perfect in singles competition for the fall season.
Rao said she thinks her habits in the off-season raised her game to another level from where it was last season.
“I worked hard over the summer,” Rao said. “I conditioned a little more and worked on the physical aspect of the game.”
She said her added strength and endurance allows her to get to more balls.
Lindemann opted to take a trip home to work on her game over the summer. The native of Linz, Austria said competing in tournament play prior to this season helped sharpen her game.
She said the three or four tournaments she played in over the summer improved her match experience.
The youngest of the unblemished, Dirnstorfer, has an experience edge of her own.
Dirnstorfer of Pinsdorf, Austria, one of four Austrian players on the team, competed in club play in Vienna before coming to The University of Memphis.
While the club experience might come in handy for Dirnstorfer, she said she’s learning more than ever as a Tiger.
“It’s nothing like this,” Dirnstorfer said. “Playing in a tennis club is not like playing for a university.
“It’s good to practice every day and coach (Charlotte Peterson) knows a lot about tennis. I’m improving my tactics and tennis techniques.”
Dirnstorfer is one of four first-year players on this year’s team that lost two players from last season’s roster.
Peterson said having the extra depth on the team helps support the singles competitors when they win.
“It helps when you can count on somebody all the way down the line,” Peterson said.
Peterson said the team is stronger in doubles now that they have more players and the team should win more total matches.
