By Cassie Sheridan |
Alex Ferrero
Senior
Almeria, Spain
Senior tennis player Alex Ferraro is coming in strong for his final season playing both doubles and singles tennis. Ferro posted an 11-8 singles record last season. This season, Ferrero is playing doubles with fellow senior Ratan Gill. The pair have been awarded the WCC doubles team of the week after improving to 4-0. Ferrero is from Almeria, Spain and is an economics major.
What is your first memory playing tennis?My first memory is playing with my Dad. I was probably 7 or 8 years old I didn’t even like it at first. Then, I kept playing and made some friends that played and I just kept improving until it pretty much became my life.
What is your pre-match routine?I always change my grip to a new one on my racket. My right wristband always has to be white and the other one must be black otherwise I get stressed out. Those are really my only two things.
Do you have a favorite racket or favorite string?I have a favorite string, it’s Wilson Lexinal. I don’t really care too much about the racket in particular.
Can you describe the emotions after you have won a particularly intense match?You spend so much time preparing for those matches and tennis is a largely independent sport so when you pull off a W in a particularly challenging match it’s hugely rewarding. Every point is a battle and when you earn that W it’s kind of overwhelming; it’s one of the best feelings you can have.
Do you enjoy playing singles or doubles more?I love my partners. It’s so fun to play with someone else, when you get really close with a partner you can make jokes and have more fun with it. Of course it’s very serious but we still have a lot of fun. I definitely like them both equally though.
Do you have any particular goals for your senior year?My main goal is to stay really healthy this season and try to just perform as best as I can in every single match I have this year. I want to have a great ending for my college career and that starts with just staying healthy to compete.
Do you plan on staying in the USA post-grad or returning to Spain?I would like to attain a masters for next year, I’m thinking still about the US or in Europe. I really enjoy it here in the US however I definitely miss home. I think I want to stay in the US for one more two more years but I know that eventually I will end up back in Europe to work.
What do you enjoy doing outside of school and tennis?I watch a lot of movies and TV shows. I also try to read when I don’t have too much reading for classes. I play video games a lot with my housemates or go bowling. I really enjoy doing a lot of things that are very American, like bowling.
Do you enjoy playing any sports other than tennis?I play soccer, but really only for fun. In Spain, soccer is a religion and I take it much less serious than that. I really enjoy playing any sport from ping-pong to basketball. I’d like to try out American football.
Do you have a favorite place in Portland?I’m kind of an old school guy and I enjoy going to Ground Kontrol. It’s like an old time arcade video games. It’s a really cool spot.
