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By Scoop Malinowski

Status: Â ATP no. 53.

First Tennis Memory: Â Being on the court with my dad’s college guys. He coached at College in the Desert. And just at our house and hitting two-handed forehands and backhands. I had to be like two or three years old.

Tennis Inspirations: Â (Pete) Sampras, as far as role models go. (He was) a big role model for me. But inspiration…the reason why I play is I love to compete. Tennis is great because it’s one on one, it’s just you against someone else. It’s mental, physical. I just really like competing. And…winning [smiles].”

First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: Â (Amdre) Agassi I would say. (When?) US Open. Because my mom was playing the seniors and my dad helped out Andre when he was younger. They knew each other. And I got to meet him. (How old were you?) I was so young. Like four or five. (You actually remember meeting Andre?) Barely.

Greatest Sports Moment: Â Memphis final (this year).

Most Painful Moment: Â Hmmm…I lost a match in high school tennis. There was a match I lost in high school tennis. That was the low point. (Score?) In high school tennis we played one set. I lost the set 7-6. Came out a little too confident, went down a break. The guy was serving big. Got to a tiebreaker, I just couldn’t do it [smiles].

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: Â To play? Or like my second best sport? (Both. Whatever.) I really like playing soccer.

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Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: Â (Cristiano) Ronaldo. (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic. I like soccer a lot. And then…who else do I really like… are we going outside of tennis? (Anybody.) I really like (Juan Martin) Del Potro, tennis-wise.

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Strangest Match: Â My tennis matches have been pretty normal, to be honest. No strange things really happened.

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Embarrassing Tennis Memory: Â I’m sure I have but I just try to forget those.

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Funniest Players Encountered: Â On Tour? Well, I mean, no one knows it yet but the American guys coming up – Reilly Opelka and Tommy Paul are pretty hilarious guys. And also I think Sam Querrey is pretty funny.

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Last Book Read: Â I don’t even know. I haven’t read a book in a long time [smiles].

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Favorite Tournament(s): Â US Open’s a great event. Home soil Grand Slam. That’s one of my favorites. Or Indian Wells.

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People Qualities Most Admired: Â Just like people that are funny, good sense of humor, very friendly. And yeah, very friendly people who go out of their way to talk is nice.

favorites. Or Indian Wells. Â Order Facing McEnroe now:Â Â https://www.amazon.com/Facing-McEnroe-Symposium-Champion-Greatness/dp/1532844816/ref=zg_bsnr_16626_3

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