17-07-2025
Young tennis player plans to top his rankings by years end
With his goals for the year set on increasing both his Tennis South Africa (TSA) and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, Constantine Covery is ready to take on what these goals inevitably require of him.
Though this De La Salle Holy Cross College matric learner may see it as a challenge that he started tennis late, about five or six years after everyone else, it's his zeal for the game that is sure to see him break point against any server.
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Constantine's best part of training has to be the physical intensity of it and being outside. 'I also love the friends I train with. They are some of my closest friends.'
His typical, weekly training programme is five, one-hour strength and conditioning sessions, followed by an hour and a half squad session, with one private session a week for an hour. He'll also to try play sets with his friends twice a week.
All that training leads to matches. He finds he mentally prepares for these by keeping things very simple and following a routine. 'I focus on my breathing and stick to the game plan. Physically, I warm up very well, with a hitting session before my match with priority being on feeling the ball well.'
When it comes to the sport, outside of loving watching the skill and intensity at which his idol, former professional tennis player Rafael Nadal, plays at, he loves the mental and physical aspects of it. 'I am competitive, so I enjoy the competition at tournaments. I also love the aspect of skill, as it's not all about power, strength, speed, or endurance.'
Though he knows that, as a junior, he lacks the experience of some of counterparts, as he started playing years after them, he has faith he can overcome whatever challenge this threatens to impose, through training as hard as he can, and playing as many tournaments as he is able.
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