Roy Smith is an American tennis professional from New Haven, Connecticut. He played two seasons of college tennis at Baylor, 2017 and 2018, before turning pro in 2019. Roy sat for an exclusive interview with Tennis Acumen at the Challenger tournament in Knoxville, November 2019.
Tennis Acumen: One question we ask a lot of guys is this, Roy: Some guys just love to win. That's the most important thing to them. Some guys hate to lose more than anything. So, avoiding the loss is more important than actually winning. Where do you fall on that spectrum?
Roy Smith: Well, I'm just trying to better each day.
Tennis Acumen: Let’s talk about coming to the net and hitting a winner. You just won the match. What’s the feeling? Is it more the joy of winning or the relief, the pressure off your shoulders?
Roy Smith: I do like the pressure off my shoulders. You're going to have your wins and losses, of course. I feel like everyone hates to lose. But, for me, it’s just getting better every day and it's really trusting the process. I feel like that can carry you pretty far.
Tennis Acumen: Tell me more about that trusting the process.
Roy Smith: It’s all about trying to get better. Because I feel like I haven't done tennis full time. In school, I would practice two or three hours a day. I haven't really been out playing for long. I am less than a year playing professional, full time tennis. I talk about trying to get better, trusting the process more, because I really haven’t been doing it that long.
Tennis Acumen: I really appreciate the way you explained that. So, when did you first pick up a racket?
Roy Smith: I first picked up a racket when I was 4 years old, but I wasn't serious about it. I started playing tennis seriously when I was 12. So ,at 12 I started to play in tournaments and that sort of thing.
Tennis Acumen: When you were younger, say still in school, How did you deal with losses and struggles and frustration at that point.
Roy Smith: I was into other sports, so tennis wasn't really my first choice. I had to choose between basketball, baseball and tennis in high school. I chose tennis then, just a few years ago.
Tennis Acumen: Well, for a lot of guys, from the time they're four years old, there's nothing else. You've had a lot more variety in your life and had some choices to make. So, if someone had said: “Roy, listen, the sports thing is just not for you.”, what would you be doing?
Roy Smith: If it weren’t for athletics, I’d be in college taking business classes. Yeah. Private industry, a business degree.
Tennis Acumen: Are you good with numbers and math and that kind of thing?
Roy Smith: Yes, I'm pretty good, at least when I want to be, yeah. Anyway, I don't want to be just about that.
Tennis Acumen: Even though you put aside a pro career, and played college tennis at Baylor, you have still traveled a bit. Have you picked up any foreign languages or phrases that help you get along?
Roy Smith: A little Spanish, but not that much. I could find a bathroom or find a restaurant. Maybe ask for some food.
Tennis Acumen: Hey, it's been fun watching you play. Thanks a lot for sitting down with us. It’s been a pleasure. Best of luck going forward.
Roy Smith: Thank you. I appreciate it.
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