Brady Jacob - Longer he has played with us the more rewarding it has gotten.

We caught up with Brady Jacob out of PittsburghTennisLeague.com  franchise. He's racked up an impressive 126 wins and 78 losses record over the last 8 years.

Which league are you a member of?

I was a member of the Miami league from 2015-2018 and Pittsburgh from 2019-now.

How did you first learn about it?

Google! You gotta love the SEO-friendly league name. Lol 

How often do you play?

Generally 2-3x a week. In Pittsburgh, I usually rest for the winter and gear up for the spring season. 

What do you like most about the league?

I like that there's a wide variety of players of different backgrounds and experience, but everyone is capable of beating each other on a given day. It's what makes tennis fun and keeps me coming back. 

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

This year's spring 2 season playoff final was one of the more memorable matches of my life. I was playing against Brendan Mason who had beaten me the last few times we played. He is a tough opponent as he's very athletic and generally I would wear down towards the end of our matches. But this match was different. We split the first two sets and went all the way in the third to a tiebreaker in which I was able to pull out the win. The match lasted around 3 hours which was definitely the longest match I've ever played. I was very proud of how I played that day as I've been working this summer on my conditioning and mental game.  

Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?

The longer I've been in the league, the more rewarding it has gotten. I enjoy the ebbs and flows of different players coming in and out, meeting different people and learning their games and adjusting your own over time to get better. I have met a lot of quality players and good people over the years and a lot of them have remained friends. 

How did you get started playing tennis?

My mom signed me and herself up for beginner lessons when I was around 9 years old. I played through high school and then stopped playing competitively for the most part when I went to college at University of Miami. A few years after graduating, I was getting the itch to compete again and that's when I found the league. 

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both, of course. 

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

4.25 

What do you love about tennis?  

Being one on one against the other player. Some matches are more of a physical challenge, some are more of a mental one, and some are both. I am happy to have a sport that I enjoy and know that I will continue enjoying it for many years to come. 

Describe your tennis game:

I consider myself an all-around player who will always do my best to make life tough for my opponent. I'm comfortable coming to the net and putting away points with volleys or overheads. I have heavy topspin on my forehand so I usually rely on that to get my opponent off balance. My one handed topspin backhand has always been weaker, but this season I've gained a lot of confidence in it and am hitting it much more often. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies?

Currently I live outside of Pittsburgh in Oakmont, PA and work in the business side of the Physical Therapy industry. I lived in Miami from 2007-2018 and moved back here mostly to be closer to family and for work. Other hobbies include golfing, electronic music and festivals, yoga, cooking (food, as well as on the tennis court).