University of Tennessee Athletics
First Serve: Jess Jones
September 12, 2014 | Men's Tennis
By Amanda Pruitt
UTSports.com
Freshman Jess Jones opens his career today at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships at the University of Georgia near his hometown.
Jones, a native of Warner-Robins, Ga., is one of three freshmen playing his first match representing the Vols in the four-day tournament. During his final week of preparation, Jones sat down to discuss team-led practices, goals of the fall and his start in tennis.
Q: Into the first few weeks of school, what has the team-led training been like?
A: Team practices have been good. I've been working on some things. It's been tough, but it's been really fun so far. I'm enjoying it.
Q: What are your goals this first fall season?
A: Right now, I'm just focusing on getting used to everything, and hopefully just working on things and getting ready for the spring season.
Q: First tournament coming up this weekend. You're getting back in your home state. What are you looking for this weekend?
A: I'm excited. My whole family's coming up to watch because it's pretty close to home. Hopefully I'll play well and it'll be a good experience.
Q: Speaking of family, has your whole family converted to orange yet?
A: (Laughs) Not yet. They're getting to it. We were always big Georgia fans growing up, but they're starting to wear orange around the house.
Q: What's it's been like having two older guys -- Hunter Reese and Andrew Dromsky -- also from Georgia? Has it helped transitioning to college?
A: It really helped a lot. Going through the recruiting process knowing two guys from Georgia and growing up with them, it really helped with my decision to come here.
Q: Why'd you decide to come to Tennessee?
A: I thought the coaching staff was great. I really fit in well with the team. I felt like it was the right fit for me.
Q: Why did you end up playing tennis? Your whole family is into athletics and you played different sports growing up.
A: My sisters both played growing up. I played baseball and basketball pretty seriously up until high school, and then I decided I wanted to get serious and start playing tennis and traveling with my sisters. That's how I got involved with it.
They both graduated from college this year. One (Taylor) played at Georgia Southern, and she was on the team with Andrew when he was there. That's how I knew him a lot better. The other (Ginny) went to Georgia Southwestern.
Q: You're coming in with a couple other freshmen, Igor Smilansky and Luis Valero. Tell us about the freshmen class.
A: They're both great players as well. It's good competition, and it's good to meet people from other countries. I room with Luis and Igor lives two doors down, so we're pretty much together 24/7. It's been fun.
Q: Do you know what you want to major in?
A: Right now I'm planning to major in sports management and therapeutic recreation. I want to see how far tennis takes me, and then I want to get into coaching.
Q: Describe your game for the Tennessee fans who haven't seen you play yet.
A: I'm pretty solid from the ground. I'm pretty fast on the court. I see what they're going to do first and go from there. I play a lot of defense and then try to switch it more over to offense now.
Q: Is there any player you model your game after?
A: I have a few favorites, but none I try to model my game after, I guess. My favorite is probably (Roger) Federer. I like (Gael) Monfils as well. He's pretty interesting to watch. I usually cheer for those two.
Q: This leads into the lightning round of sorts. If you could play a doubles match with Djokovic, Federer or Nadal, who would it be?
A: I'd choose Federer on that one just because he's always been my favorite player. That would be pretty awesome to play and just to see the shots he could come up with. I think that would be cool.
Q: Super speed, super strength or super brains? Which superhero ability would you want on court?
A: Super speed probably. That way you'd get every shot back. It'd be impossible to hit a winner by you.
Q: If the whole team were trapped on a deserted island, what life skills would you bring to the group?
A: I like to joke around, so I say if we were trapped on an island, I'd probably mess around a lot and we'd have a good a time.
Q: What team member would survive the longest on this island?
A: I'd have to go with Hunter on that one. I think he'd just have the skills it would take to survive the island. He'd find a way.
Q: If the deserted island had a TV and DVD player for some reason, what's the one show you would want to watch?
A: Eastbound and Down. I'm pretty into that.
Q: Favorite food?
A: Pizza.
Q: Favorite topping?
A: Chicken and sausage.
Q: Can you play any instruments?
A: I tried to play guitar a few times, but it wasn't my forte. My dad can play, but I never really learned how to.
Q: What's your favorite music group/artist?
A: Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean. I like country music, so one of those.
Q: When's the last time you went Trick or Treating at Halloween?
A: It's pretty much an annual thing, I guess. I always go with my friends. Last year, two of my friends played baseball, so they went as baseball players and I went as a tennis player.
Q: Have you ever had a pet that wasn't a dog or a cat?
A: One of my sisters had a pet turtle, but that didn't last too long.
Q: We'll end on this: what superhero best describes you?
A: Have to go with Superman, I guess. It doesn't get better than that.
