There are no cameras or reporters waiting to watch them practice inside the Meadow Creek Tennis Club on a snowy afternoon, and that is just the way they like it. For men’s tennis players Adam Holmstrom and Niklas Persson they like playing under the radar. Their method has helped them to an impressive No. 6 doubles ranking in the nation.
“Right now it does not mean too much,” said senior Holmstrom about the ranking. “We need to keep it up until the end of the season. We had a good fall season and it will help us build some momentum into this part of the season.”
“I think it just shows that they are able to play with the best in the country, their results set them up to have a good year,” said Head Coach Danny Westerman.
The duo posted a 13-3 record this fall on their way to becoming the first DU men’s doubles team to advance to the 2007 ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship in program history.
“We know we can beat everyone. We proved that in the indoor tournament, as we lost to the No. 1 seed. Everyone can beat everyone and we feel that we are up there too,” said Holmstrom.
For Holmstrom the success does not end with doubles as he is currently ranked No. 17 in singles play, which is also a program best. The senior advanced to the semifinals of the ITA Championship, losing to Ryan Rowe of Illinois, 7-6(7) and 6-3.
Last season Holmstrom went down eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the first round of singles play and this season is setting higher goals.
“It would be a lot of fun to go there as a whole team or at least as a doubles, and I think that is our biggest goal.”
A goal that is not that far off, but will require a lot of hard work for the remainder of the season.
“Helping them move a little bit more and feel comfortable on the court. When they play well there isn’t much they are doing wrong, they can beat anybody in the country,” said Westerman about the improvements that need to be made.
The tandem finished with an overall record of 27-8 during the 2006-07 season, including 16-4 when playing in dual competition.
“We have played together now for six, seven years and we know each other pretty well and that is our biggest strength,” said Persson about how they play so well together.
It is a strength that few other pairings in college tennis have, because most are paired up with a partner when they get to school and sometimes change partners two or three times during a college career. For Holmstrom and Persson they met while playing tennis in their native country of Sweden and have continued their partnership at DU.
“We play well, we play aggressive and we have a good return and we complement each other pretty well,” said Holmstrom.
After a successful fall season of attending numerous tournaments Denver will begin its dual season this Friday in one of its few home matches against Air Force.
Last season DU finished second to South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Champion of the conference tournament is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament, which the Pioneers are aiming for this season.
“If we can make it as a team to the NCAA tournament especially as a senior it would be great,” said Persson.
It is all set up to be another record-setting year for Denver men’s tennis, one that hopes to have an NCAA tournament type of an ending.
