- 2021 Spotlight
Personal Statement
My name is Sairaj Srinivasan and I am from Cedar Grove, New Jersey. Tennis has been an integral part of my life for some time now. I can remember the first balls I hit, the vibrations of the shot, and the sounds of the ball as it bounced upon the ground. I was no natural. That is one thing I am sure of. It took years of practice and playing to get me where I am now. While I am happy with how I have come to be, it was not always this good. There were times where my interest in tennis was waning and I was losing motivation for the sport. My parents had always supported my love for the support, but at times I did not reciprocate that intensity. Right before high school had begun I had taken a long break with tennis and when I returned I was quite rusty. When tryouts came to pass, the skills that I developed were visible, but the rust was far more prominent. I was a shell of my former self and I was playing far below what I knew I could be. I severely underperformed and barely made the Varsity Team while mostly playing 1st Doubles on Junior Varsity. This disappointment irritated me and I vowed to stop it right then and there and to focus more on the game. I began to practice far more often, pretty much every day, for hours on end. I was motivated once again and my coach saw it in me. He would end up letting me play more Varsity matches towards the end and at the end of the year believed I could play Singles for them the next year. I would end up transferring to my hometown school and was ready for another year of improvement. Despite my renewed passion for the sport, tragedy would strike and COVID-19 would hit America. At the beginning of the Pandemic, my family and I would all catch the virus. My brother and I were on the lucky side, however, my parents were in bad shape for a few days, and my mother's conditions lasting for a few weeks. We would have to take care of them and gained a greater appreciation of everything they did for us. While my journey in tennis was on hold again, my passion for it did not dwindle and I continued to watch videos and get ready for when I could play again. The courts would be reopened and I continued to work on my craft. Junior year would come and when the season started I was ready to try to leave my mark. The season opened with a close three setter with a great player. Unfortunately I would lose that match and another one later that season. Despite this, I was more motivated than ever and I would end the season with a winning record. I would end up being selected to play in the New Jersey Singles State Tournament at Mercer County Park. I also was awarded First Team Honors for my county. I am now still working on my skills and trying to improve everyday. While I may not be the most athletic, the strongest, or the most accomplished I believe that my drive to improve and be great is very much present. I have worked on my speed on the court, the ability to slide and hone my lateral movement. Besides that I am constantly improving and I believe with my passion for the sport, my skills for the game, and my court IQ I could be an excellent addition to a College Team. I have grown to love this sport and I am truly motivated to play in college and try to put my skills to the test like never before.
