The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE collegiate season is starting to wind down for Sydney Clarke and her University of Arlington at Birmingham Blazers women’s tennis team.

And while it’s been a tough road for the Blazers, Clarke said she’s been grateful for the way things have turned out so far.

“I feel great. I feel very happy with the way things have progressed for me this semester,” Clarke said. “I’m just appreciative and excited to be able to wrap up the season.”

20-year-old Clarke and the Blazers, who are 10-10 and 2-2 in Conference USA, will be back in action on the courts on Saturday when they take on Middle Tennessee.

They will then wrap up their season in Murfreesboro from April 21-24 when they compete in the 2022 Conference USA Championships.

On Saturday, Clarke suffered a heartbreaking tie-breaker loss to Margaux Maquet (3-6, 7-6, 10-8) as UAB fell 4-1 to No.51 ranked Charlotte.

Clarke, however, came through in doubles as she teamed up with Maggie White and they secured a 6-1 win over No. 23 Margaux Maquet and Lucia Quiterio in doubles.

“I was hoping to get the win over Charlotte, but I didn’t. Hopefully I can get a win over Middle Tennessee this Saturday before we get ready for our conference championship next weekend,” Clarke said.

“It’s been tough because the competition is very good. Everyone on our team has been playing very well, but we just had a rough day on Saturday.”

With a lot more focus on her mental preparation, Clarke said she could end up with some very good results over the final two weeks of competition.

“It’s all about getting mentally prepared from the night before,” she stated. “I just have to visualise my game plan and how I am going to play the next day. I have to learn to be mentally prepared.”

As for the team, Clarke said the Blazers have been performing very well with some good victories.

“Each match we have been getting better and we have improved in different aspects of the game,” she insisted.

“Whether it’s in singles or doubles, we have been improving.

“But I think our doubles match play has gotten a lot better and even though it has been tough on us this year, I feel we will learn from these experiences and be even better next year.”

In critiquing her game, Clarke said if she can bring the same energy each match she plays, she can be a force to reckon with for the Blazers.

“Sometimes I tend to doze off in lala land, but if I mentally prepare myself and visualise how I want to play and keep the same energy, I will play better than I am right now.”

With school getting ready to close for the summer, Clarke said she’s been able to apply herself in the classroom and is looking forward to break when she returns home on April 30th for relaxation and fun with her family and friends.

“These last couple of weeks have been tough with a lot of tests and classes,” said the entrepreneurship major with a minor in mass communication.

“It’s been a little tough just trying to keep up with everything and playing over the weekend. But otherwise it’s been great.”

Clarke is a former student of CR Walker Secondary High School who went on to graduate from Windsor High School while being a part of the Albany Tennis Academy powered by Lleyton Hewitt.

She is the daughter of Shayvon and Bernard Clarke and has a younger sibling Sarai Clarke, who is attending Webb School in Tennessee where she is also playing tennis.