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By Scoop Malinowski

Status: ATP ranked 96.

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 185

DOB: July 22, 1991 In: Gallatin, TN

First Tennis Memory: “Playing with my family. I have a court at home. Playing with my mom and brother and my dad. On the court we have in the backyard. I was young, about five or six. Barely getting balls over the net.”

Tennis Inspirations: “My father (David), he was a player. He played some Satellite tournaments. He just loved the game. And he enjoyed playing and he never liked how frustrated I got on the court. He thought it was about enjoyment, finding enjoyment on the court. My younger years I wasn’t necessarily my biggest fan on the court. He sometimes wouldn’t watch because it was a little too much. I remember that. I try to keep that with me. I try and find some enjoyment. I try to enjoy my time on the court. Find something to hold on to. Have some fun with it. He’s still one of my biggest inspirations.”

Last Book Read: “I’m reading The Wheel Of Time series by Robert Jordan. It’s a fourteen book fantasy series and I’m on book eight. I read a lot of fantasy.”

Current Car: ‘I drive a Chevy Cruz, navy blue.”

First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: “When I was ten, at Cincinnati Masters and I was watching Richard Krajicek play. I can’t remember who he was playing. But Todd Martin was playing him the next day. He was with his coach, kind of behind the court watching. We were watching too. So I throw my ball up to Todd to sign. My big ball. While we were watching the match. So he gave it a quick sign. I think that was my first interaction with a pro.”

Greatest Career Moment: “I think winning the Tempe Challenger last year (beat Milojevic 63 in the third). I won two Challengers. The one before that was in 2013 in Champaign, Illinois (beat Sam Groth 76 in the third). And that was coming back from a lot of injuries. From a lot of disappointment. A lot of disappointment before that. And to keep going and to hang in there. Trying to get the best out of myself. To win that Challenger and get to a career high ranking, it set me up to playing in the US Open main draw on Ashe Stadium, beating Nick Kyrgios in Washington DC and reaching the top 100. Those were the best feelings I’ve had on a tennis court.”

Most Painful Moemnt: “There’s been a couple. I would say every time I lost in qualifying of a Grand Slam. Because there’s so much opportunity. You feel like you’re so close to your dream. You’re very close to your goals. So losing first or second round of qualifying, you haven’t really done anything [smiles]. It’s cool to make it there and say I got to play in a Grand Slam. But you’re so close to a lot of points and money, and not that you think about it, but you’re very close to ‘making it.’ To lose in qualies is a hard feeling, it’s a tough feeling. I’ve had some tight matches that I’ve lost. It’s disappointing. It’s disappointing.”

Favorite Tournaments: “I love the Australian Open. They do a great job with the players. Transportation is awesome. They’re super friendly. I love Melbourne as a city. I really enjoyed Houston. Houston is a beautiful place and the club we played at is one of the best in the US, maybe the world.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: ‘Nothing really stands out. Sometimes I am a little embarrassed if I let my emotions get the best of me. And I don’t behave at the standard that is acceptable. Those are times I leave the court when I don’t get the most out of myself or I get mad at a ref, or, God forbid, a ballkid or something ridiculous. Those are the times I’ll leave the court and feel shameful and embarrassed. I’ll feel embarrassed for myself. I didn’t conduct myself in the proper way. There’s a limit. There’s a little that you can do. People give players a lot of leeway. There’s that line you’re not supposed to go over. I’ve gone over it a few times. Those are times when I’m pretty embarrassed with myself.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “I like hockey. I’m not a big sports guy but I do like going to live hockey games. Very entertaining.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “I love the one-on-one-ness. Love the mano a mano, where it’s on your shoulders. Just the non-physical boxing. I think that makes it entertaining. It keeps it fresh and fun and challenging. It wouldn’t be fun if it wasn’t super challenging where it’s all on you. To figure it out. No coaches. You can’t sub in that three-point shooter to make that last-second shot to get you over the hump. It’s on you. That makes it fun at practice because you have to make sure all your skills are sharp. In the gym – you gotta be fit. There’s definitely a lot of bases that you have to cover. But that’s what makes it a full day and entertaining sport to play.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I like to see empathy in people. To understand what the other people are going through. Trustworthiness. Self-respect. Respecting others.”

" Tennys Sandgren · Tennessee

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