We caught up with Goran Alimpic from TennisPortland.com the Metro Portland Oregon Tennis League. He's going to win the 2018 Player of the Year contest.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)?
I work from home as a software engineer. As I moved to USA in 2016 (I used to live here a long time ago, as well), I am not really connected to a particular place, so I move around a lot - it is just more interesting that way. As for other hobbies, I like to travel, I used to produce music and play in a band, I tried SCUBA diving and flying, but the only thing that stuck was tennis.Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)?
Which league are you a member of?
Portland Tennis League, he has a 48-20 record and has only been playing since Nov. 2017. He's played matches in 3 different franchises: Tennis-Austin.com, TennisDenver.com and TennisPortland.com
How long
have you participated in your league?
6 months
in this one - before that I played in leagues where I lived (Austin, and
Denver). In total, that's a year and a
half.
How did
you first learn about it?
I am not
sure - I either searched the net for some local leagues, or heard about it from
somebody.
How often
do you play?
I try to
play as often as I can, usually several times a week.
What do
you like most about the league?
I like
how everything is well organized and without a glitch. It always goes forward
and it is easy to find an opponent.
Tell us
about your most memorable match(es)
I
remember losses better: in the most recent league playoff match I was leading
8:5 in the final tie break and serving. My nerves got the better of me and I
lost 5 points in a row, and the match.
Who are
your favorite rivals in the league? Why?
Whoever
is super friendly and likes to engage in conversation during breaks and after
the match. From the competitive perspective, I like players who attack more and
punish my short balls, rather than just return them, since then I feel I can
also adjust my style and be more aggressive, which makes the match more intense.
Do you
have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?
I am
actually amazed with the level of honesty and fairness during matches - I
rarely ever had an issue regarding the score, validity of the point, someone's behavior
or anything else. Every match is always a pleasurable experience.
How did
you get started playing tennis?
I wanted to exercise more,
and It seemed like a better alternative to working out or running, since I find
most physical activities boring, and playing a competitive match is more
interesting.
What
level player are you? (NTRP rating)
4.0
What do
you love about tennis?
I love
the competitive aspect of it, which shows on all levels: POINT - each one is
its own little battle with beginning, middle, and end stages; GAME - even being
independent, points in a game connect together as you play for the final game
score and adjust your tactics to that end; MATCH - as you learn about your opponent's strengths
and weaknesses, and your own form during the match, you change your style and
strategy. Besides just hitting the ball, it is everything that happens in
your head while trying to outsmart and outplay the opponent.
Who are
your favorite pro players? Why?
Since I
am originally from Serbia, I can't help but always root for Djokovic. As for
the style of play, I like Nadal - we are both left-handed, prefer clay courts
and use the same racquet. (That's where the similarities end, though)
