Men's Tennis: A tale of two freshmen

Most freshmen come to Princeton filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, eager to hone the familiar while exploring new avenues of expression. A few excel in one or two activities. And some win regional tennis tournaments. Such is the story for freshmen Matt Siow and Matija Pecotic, two members of the men’s tennis team who have enjoyed success in tournament play during the fall season.

Siow and Pecotic traveled different roads before arriving at Princeton to play together. Siow, who recently won the “B” division at the Columbia and Yale invitational tournaments, excelled as a scholar-athlete at University High in Irvine, Calif., and competed in United States Tennis Association (USTA) junior circuit events across the country before matriculating at Princeton. Siow reached the quarterfinals in the Super National Winter Championships in Tucson, Ariz., this past year.

Pecotic, unlike most members of the Class of 2013, graduated high school in 2007. Pecotic, who won the “A” bracket at Yale, graduated from the Verdala International School in Malta, then spent a year competing internationally throughout Europe and visiting American universities before deciding to attend Princeton. To be eligible for Ivy League play, however, one must be a year removed from any tournament matches, so Pecotic took a second year off, dedicating his time to a local organization for children with Down syndrome and autism in Malta while continuing to train.

“I am a bit more mature about the way I approach things as a result of those two years,” Pecotic said. “It was a time to find myself, find what I want to do, and those two years really served for that.”

Given the contrast in backgrounds, it should come as little surprise that Siow and Pecotic have had different experiences in acclimating to college life. Pecotic said he was initially caught off guard by the time commitment that the tennis program demanded, but he has since learned to balance scholastic and athletic life.

Siow said he has felt less pressure transitioning into college athletics. That can be partially attributed to the proactive manner in which he, like Pecotic, used his time at the end of high school. After being accepted by Princeton, Siow upped his training regimen in tennis while continuing to pursue his studies, in effect simulating the environment of college athletics.

Siow and Pecotic both noted differences between high school and college tennis. With better coaching in college, the freshmen have faced opponents who maximize their play on the court by featuring the strongest aspects of their game, Siow explained.

“The biggest difference is everyone knows what they want to do out on the court,” Siow said. “If they don’t have a big serve, they’re not going to try to get away with one.”

“The level of play [is higher] than I was expecting,” Pecotic said. “Everyone is really good, and everyone is really hard-working on and off the court.”

Both Siow and Pecotic credited the Princeton coaching staff, led by head coach Glenn Michibata, for highlighting the best aspects of their games. For Pecotic, a lefty with a big serve and an aggressive forehand, the areas of focus are ones he had already concentrated on in amateur play.

“I haven’t changed my game, but I’ve made it more efficient,” Pecotic said.

In contrast, Siow has seen his game refocused this fall. Always blessed with a strong serve, Siow was formerly content to settle into baseline rallies to win points. Under the guidance of the coaching staff, Siow has worked to become more of a net rusher and feature his strong volleys.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

“I was discouraged at first, but the coaches stress that playing the right way is more important than winning individual matches,” Siow said. “Everything [they emphasize] has been working.”

With this guidance, both Siow and Pecotic have seen their tournament results steadily improve throughout the fall. With the ITA Invitational now in the past and the fall schedule behind them, both rookies can now enjoy some deserved downtime before match play resumes in January.