Darin Stojanovic - 246 matches and counting!

We caught back up with Darin Stojanovic out of the Tennis Philadelphia franchise is increasing his tennis game.  He started his tennis journey in the summer of 2022 at the 3.0 level and then in the fall division 2024 season competed at the 3.50 level.  His favorite color is blue and there he is getting ready for a match at Parkside tennis courts.

What do you love about tennis?

Tennis gives me the exercise I need to stay physically and mentally engaged.  The fun part is wearing bright neon attire and experimenting with new gear.  In the winter, I play indoors at Legacy Youth Tennis and Education courts.  Here I am playing in the summertime wearing a visor with advanced technology to keep me cool in those hot hard-court outdoor matches.  

How long have you participated in your league?

I have been a part of the league every season since 2022 Spring season #2.   

How did you first learn about it?

I never knew about the league while living in Philadelphia.  I took a few lessons at Legacy and my opponents suggested I look into Philly Tennis.

How often do you play?

I play every day when the weather is nice and take weekends to rest.   My favorite surface to play on is clay since you can slide to catch those wide shots or go for that incredibly spinning drop-shot.  There is me playing in the evening at Logan Tennis Club.

What do you like most about the league?

I like the competitiveness between the players. There are so many people playing that you can play all the time!!!   The league brings people together from various tennis skills, ages, and backgrounds.  It is a very affordable way to play tennis.  

Tell us about your most memorable match(es).

The best match is when two players are equal in skill and they try and outdo each other.  The match goes on for three hours and has many deuces and the winner usually wins by 2 points at the final tie-breaker.    

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

Two people stand out:  matches against Benjamin Fedosky and Evan Benn are always fun to play. We push each other to hit deep top-spin faster, slice closer to the net, lob consistently or hit wider serves, and become better tennis players overall. 

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

People at the 3.5 level have a wide variety of skillsets.  Someone is good at serving or lobs or deep shots.  Nobody has the game all around and it makes the matches very interesting to watch as we battle with different techniques and strategies to win.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I played as a kid over the summer and took some afterschool lessons.  I didn’t take tennis seriously during my childhood and had a racket just in case friends wanted to play for fun.   I didn’t play a lot during my 20s and 30s.  In my 40s I looked for an exercise sport and tennis suited me more compared to running and biking.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I want both.   I usually shift on the fun side that way when I lose, I still feel like I had a great time.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

Currently I am playing at the 3.25 level.   I was at the 3.5 level over the 2024 summer/fall season and then I got bumped down for the winter season.  I improve slowly and some parts of my game are still developing.  As the spring season gets in full swing, I get promoted to a higher division and then later moved down a level.  I feel like stronger players join the season in the fall.   Overall, I am moving forward!!  I feel like my slice serve is best move.  There is me playing a match at Fairmount Park Tennis Courts and trying to get a kick-serve going from ad side.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

I follow the tennis matches from Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. They have so much mental strength to push through toughest moments to win.  They display character during their matches and that is more important than winning the match.  My favorite is still Djokovic and his displays of desire and endurance to win the gold medal at 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

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

I grew up abroad and moved to different countries before settling in the US. Currently I reside in Philadelphia with my wife and two small Chihuahua mixes. I stay very active with tennis or walking the trails with my wife and dogs.  On those cold rainy days, I find myself working out or reading.  I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill hence my blue color choices.