The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JUSTIN Roberts, fully recovered from a fractured hand that sidelined him at the beginning of his collegiate season, is having his best season ever as a member of the University of South Florida Bulldogs men’s tennis team.

Over the weekend, Roberts, now in his junior year, advanced to the quarterfinals in singles and he made it to the final in singles at the ITA Southeast Regionals in Tallahassee, Florida.

“We’re very happy with his progress. He’s had a very impressive fall so far,” said USF’s head coach Ashley Fisher. “He won a lot of matches at the All-American where he won four matches in pre-qualies.

“In the Regionals this past weekend, he had probably his best performance at that particular event. He made the quarterfinal in singles and he made it to the final in doubles, so we are very excited about the direction he is headed in.”

Roberts teamed up with Peter Bertram to play in the main draw doubles where they advanced to the final, only to lose. Roberts and Bertram pulled off an 8-3 decision over Florida’s Orkin and Kessler to reach the quarterfinal. In the quarters, they won 8-7 (5) over the host team from Florida State. Additionally, Roberts made it to the quarters of the main draw singles where he lost 7-5, 6-4 to the University of Georgia’s Emil Reinberg. He also topped Georgia Southern’s JC Alacia 6-3, 6-2 in the round of 16 after taking out Georgia State’s Felipe Jaworski 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 32.

Much more disciplined and dedicated as a player, Fisher said Roberts has certainly made the adjustment and he’s coming into his own.

“We’re going to play some Futures ITF events in November starting in Birmingham, Alabama and then Pensacola, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee,” Fisher said. “He’s going to get to play some professional events to help him improve his ATP ranking.”

With the fall season over, which is geared mainly for individual play, Fisher said they would gear up for the spring season in January with the team matches.

“From where he was earlier this year, he had a tough start at the beginning of the year and he fractured his hand and had to miss two months,” Fisher said. “He struggled to get his game back.

“But full credit to him, he’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever come across. He does so many little extra things on his own. He’s always out there hitting serves on his own or practicing with the other players. He worked really hard this summer and is by far playing the best tennis since I’ve known him.”

Fisher, however, has refused to take the credit for Roberts’ success. Instead, he has placed it squarely on the working relationship that he has developed with assistant coach Jimmy Arias. “Having Arias, his other coach, has really helped,” Fisher said. “Jimmy and Justin have been working closely together. So Jimmy has really been responsible for the way Justin has been playing right now.”

And that has resulted in Roberts producing one of his most outstanding seasons ever.