After her sophomore year in college, Lucky spent the summer in Minnesota training in Tenicity’s Tennis Program to prepare for the next college tennis season. She also helped as a coach in our grassroots programs and it was great to see her develop and inspire our youth players and be a role model for them. In the interview below, Lucky shares her thoughts on how she has continued to improve through the pandemic and her experience and goals in college tennis.
Q&A With Lucky Kancherla
How has the D1 college tennis experience been?
The transition from junior tennis to the Division 1 level was tough to navigate but I was able to improve my tennis a lot because I was forced to push myself out of my comfort zone. In addition it has been a great opportunity for me not only to experience competing at a high level but also to share the court with people from all around the world. My teammates are from all around the world yet because of our vocational niche as D1 tennis players, we are now inexplicably tied to one another.
How have you continued to improve your game through the pandemic?
Thankfully, tennis is special in that you play from opposite sides of the court and it can be played without physical contact. Hence, tennis was one of the few sports that could be played (when the weather permitted) outside when facilities were closed. Even so, especially during the more strictly enforced quarantines, and in the winter, it was difficult to get a lot of time on court and to play tournaments. This time, however, gave me the opportunity to push a lot in my fitness, work on mental health and not take my time on court for granted.
How do you balance academics with tennis?
I had to deal with balancing tennis and academics in high school when I would miss classes to travel for tournaments or practice so I didn’t feel as overwhelmed when it came to college. I think it comes down to being able to communicate with your teachers, advisors and coaches. They are there to help you in any way they can, but the onus is on you to communicate your needs and to be on top of your workload.
What are your goals for the next college tennis season?
I have made a lot of improvement from my first year to the second in that rather than my opponents overpowering me, I have been able to dictate points more. For this upcoming season, I want to implement my game style in a competitive environment and win more points at the net.
What areas of your game are you working on this summer?
I am working on improving my strength as well as cleaning up some areas of my game (volleys, forehands, returns) in order to execute my attacking style of tennis more consistently in points. I am also coaching with the program alongside practice and it has really helped me gain a new perspective as a player and it helps me to play smarter tennis.
What does a typical day in the summer look like for you?
I coach most mornings and some evenings, and practice in the afternoons. I usually do my fitness program three times a week (after practice). The earlier part of the week I tend to work on drills during practice but in the latter half of the week I do more point play. So, a typical week day would be: coaching 9-11am, practicing 12-2pm and either fitness after or coaching later in the evening 5-8pm.
What message would you like to share with other aspiring players?
Tennis is such a rewarding sport – as a player, and as a coach I have seen players of so many different levels, ages, goals and personalities gain so many valuable lessons, friends, skills and confidence. There is so much tennis has to offer. Coupled with its inclusive nature, I truly believe it can be an enriching environment for all individuals regardless of their background or experience.
We wish Lucky the very best this year and are looking forward to her continued progress in the game!
Harsh Mankad
