University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Tennis Q & A: Trio Continues Australian Legacy on Rocky Top
February 18, 2019 | Men's Tennis
The Tennessee men's tennis program has some deeply rooted history with Australian players over the years. The Vol tennis record book lists 26 Australians that have called Tennessee home.
Within those 26 Aussies, five of them earned ITA All-America honors during their time on Rocky Top, including four-time honoree J.P. Smith. He competed at UT from 2008-2011, earning the mark every year during his tenure.
Freshman Pat Harper, junior Scott Jones and sophomore Adam Walton complete the trio of Aussies on the roster this season and they add to the rich tradition of Australian Vols.
Below is a Q & A with Tennessee men's tennis' three Australian student-athletes.
When was the first time you heard of Tennessee?
Scott Jones (Perth, Australia): I guess it started when I first looked at college. Adam Carey was a coach where I was from and he used to play here. He told me a lot about it. I got in touch with him when I first learned about Tennessee tennis.
Adam Walton (Home Hill, Australia): One of my good friends from back home, Ryan Smith, was on the Tennessee team. So out of all the colleges I was looking at, Ryan was a big convincer of coming here and Chris Woodruff came down to Melbourne for the nationals and he knows my previous coaches. So through the connection that was a big factor of why Tennessee was a prioritized choice.
Pat Harper (Brisbane, Australia): Me being younger than these two, I figured it out from them, knowing they were there and also from Ryan Smith. Knowing similar coaches as Adam helped as well.
Was it funny to see the connections between Tennessee and Australia with tennis?
Jones: Yeah. I actually couldn't believe how many people had a link to Tennessee through tennis.
Walton: I thought there were a few people here that were from Australia, but I had no idea about the history.
What is it like all being from the same country? Is it helpful?
Jones: For me I think it is pretty cool. I always wanted to go to a university where I knew people beforehand. So with Ryan being on the team first, it was definitely an easy fit for me to come into college and then now I feel like with three Australians on the team, we know each other well. I just think it is good to have all of the Aussies on the team. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Walton: I think we know our teammates pretty well, but I have known these guys for just a little bit of extra of time. Just to look around the courts and see such familiar faces, it is good to play with that feeling.
Harper: We have a lot of banter. Not a lot of Americans get the Australian banter, but it is good to bring it here.
What does the tennis scene look like in Australia?
Jones: I think even going back to elementary school days, just general physical education classes for all students had tennis. I think that is really cool. People that don't really familiarize themselves with tennis, they will see a little bit about it. It is a school sport where you get to play state to state. It is kind of your first experience with a team and people from other states.
Walton: I was part of a school that was part of a GPS program, which is a private school. So we played a similar competition where there were four on a team. So I played that through grade 10, 11 and 12. So I got that team tennis before college, where we played doubles and singles. It was a team atmosphere. It obviously is not to the level that college tennis is, but it was still a team. I thought those days were pretty fun. I think tennis in Australia is pretty big as well especially during the Australian summer. Even non tennis people get into it, which is good.
Harper: Similar to Adam's (experience), but I chose a school with boys and girls. So I wasn't in his tennis league for high school. But our league wasn't as strong. I know our state to state was where I enjoyed it most. Playing team against team was definitely my favorite part of high school tennis and the weekends were open tournaments.
What is it like being there for the Australian Open? What makes it special?
Jones: For me it was just the energy around the place. Being lucky enough to play there was an unbelievable experience. The fans go crazy in the stands and cheer your name. It is just the mood around the place and the noise. Just walking through the grounds and seeing all the people that love tennis is the best part about it. It is just a great experience.
Walton: I remember playing juniors there and it was kid's day. I just remember so many people watching junior matches. People that didn't even know me were just shouting my name. It was just a really good atmosphere. I have never played with that many people watching me before. I think most of the general public gets into it that time of year. Professionals say Australia is the best place to play and I think it is the perfect way to start the year.
Harper: The atmosphere and vibe is just really good there. I have watched a few juniors there and the crowd is just amazing.
Do you think there is a style to Australian tennis that makes it different?
Jones: I think if you go back to the 1990s, just that competitive nature and passion to play tennis was so dominant for so long, which is why we have so much success. Just the passion the Australians bring. I think you see that at the tournament and that is why the players and fans have so much fun. The energy and the crowd is just unreal.
Walton: I agree with Scott. Just the fighting spirit that the Australians bring stands out to me.
What players do you look up to?
Jones: Roger Federer. But you always idolize (Lleyton) Hewitt growing up with his success and the Aussie spirit and style.
Walton: For me, I have been a big Rafael Nadal fan. The way he goes about his business is pretty cool. He doesn't really get frustrated at all. He works extremely hard. I think he is a perfect role model for tennis. I just admire him a lot. Â
Harper: I have to strongly agree with Adam. Rafael has been my favorite since I started following tennis for all the same reasons. You can't go away from Federer either though. He just defines perfection and is just a natural.
When you're walking around campus and people hear that you're from Australia, what are some of the crazy things you're asked?
Jones: I have been asked if we celebrate Christmas in the middle of the year. You always get the kangaroo questions and if you have pet one.
Walton: I think the worst one I've heard was somebody asked me how long the drive is. I didn't know how to answer that. I was shocked. Another one was do you have electricity in Australia?
Harper: I get asked about sharks all the time.
What do you think the coolest animal is out of Australia?
Jones: My favorite would probably be the Emu because you just look at those things and think there is no way that thing is faster than you. They can't fly, but they can run at quite some speed. They just don't look like they're fast animals. But they are very, very quick. I have seen them run away and they were quite quick.
Walton: I am definitely not a fan of the dangerous ones like snakes. I do like the kangaroos though.
Harper: I don't mind the platypus, they are quite cute. They are a bit different. They can't really hurt you.Â
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Within those 26 Aussies, five of them earned ITA All-America honors during their time on Rocky Top, including four-time honoree J.P. Smith. He competed at UT from 2008-2011, earning the mark every year during his tenure.
Freshman Pat Harper, junior Scott Jones and sophomore Adam Walton complete the trio of Aussies on the roster this season and they add to the rich tradition of Australian Vols.
Below is a Q & A with Tennessee men's tennis' three Australian student-athletes.
When was the first time you heard of Tennessee?
Scott Jones (Perth, Australia): I guess it started when I first looked at college. Adam Carey was a coach where I was from and he used to play here. He told me a lot about it. I got in touch with him when I first learned about Tennessee tennis.
Adam Walton (Home Hill, Australia): One of my good friends from back home, Ryan Smith, was on the Tennessee team. So out of all the colleges I was looking at, Ryan was a big convincer of coming here and Chris Woodruff came down to Melbourne for the nationals and he knows my previous coaches. So through the connection that was a big factor of why Tennessee was a prioritized choice.
Pat Harper (Brisbane, Australia): Me being younger than these two, I figured it out from them, knowing they were there and also from Ryan Smith. Knowing similar coaches as Adam helped as well.
Was it funny to see the connections between Tennessee and Australia with tennis?
Jones: Yeah. I actually couldn't believe how many people had a link to Tennessee through tennis.
Walton: I thought there were a few people here that were from Australia, but I had no idea about the history.
What is it like all being from the same country? Is it helpful?
Jones: For me I think it is pretty cool. I always wanted to go to a university where I knew people beforehand. So with Ryan being on the team first, it was definitely an easy fit for me to come into college and then now I feel like with three Australians on the team, we know each other well. I just think it is good to have all of the Aussies on the team. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Walton: I think we know our teammates pretty well, but I have known these guys for just a little bit of extra of time. Just to look around the courts and see such familiar faces, it is good to play with that feeling.
Harper: We have a lot of banter. Not a lot of Americans get the Australian banter, but it is good to bring it here.
What does the tennis scene look like in Australia?
Jones: I think even going back to elementary school days, just general physical education classes for all students had tennis. I think that is really cool. People that don't really familiarize themselves with tennis, they will see a little bit about it. It is a school sport where you get to play state to state. It is kind of your first experience with a team and people from other states.
Walton: I was part of a school that was part of a GPS program, which is a private school. So we played a similar competition where there were four on a team. So I played that through grade 10, 11 and 12. So I got that team tennis before college, where we played doubles and singles. It was a team atmosphere. It obviously is not to the level that college tennis is, but it was still a team. I thought those days were pretty fun. I think tennis in Australia is pretty big as well especially during the Australian summer. Even non tennis people get into it, which is good.
Harper: Similar to Adam's (experience), but I chose a school with boys and girls. So I wasn't in his tennis league for high school. But our league wasn't as strong. I know our state to state was where I enjoyed it most. Playing team against team was definitely my favorite part of high school tennis and the weekends were open tournaments.
What is it like being there for the Australian Open? What makes it special?
Jones: For me it was just the energy around the place. Being lucky enough to play there was an unbelievable experience. The fans go crazy in the stands and cheer your name. It is just the mood around the place and the noise. Just walking through the grounds and seeing all the people that love tennis is the best part about it. It is just a great experience.
Walton: I remember playing juniors there and it was kid's day. I just remember so many people watching junior matches. People that didn't even know me were just shouting my name. It was just a really good atmosphere. I have never played with that many people watching me before. I think most of the general public gets into it that time of year. Professionals say Australia is the best place to play and I think it is the perfect way to start the year.
Harper: The atmosphere and vibe is just really good there. I have watched a few juniors there and the crowd is just amazing.
Do you think there is a style to Australian tennis that makes it different?
Jones: I think if you go back to the 1990s, just that competitive nature and passion to play tennis was so dominant for so long, which is why we have so much success. Just the passion the Australians bring. I think you see that at the tournament and that is why the players and fans have so much fun. The energy and the crowd is just unreal.
Walton: I agree with Scott. Just the fighting spirit that the Australians bring stands out to me.
What players do you look up to?
Jones: Roger Federer. But you always idolize (Lleyton) Hewitt growing up with his success and the Aussie spirit and style.
Walton: For me, I have been a big Rafael Nadal fan. The way he goes about his business is pretty cool. He doesn't really get frustrated at all. He works extremely hard. I think he is a perfect role model for tennis. I just admire him a lot. Â
Harper: I have to strongly agree with Adam. Rafael has been my favorite since I started following tennis for all the same reasons. You can't go away from Federer either though. He just defines perfection and is just a natural.
When you're walking around campus and people hear that you're from Australia, what are some of the crazy things you're asked?
Jones: I have been asked if we celebrate Christmas in the middle of the year. You always get the kangaroo questions and if you have pet one.
Walton: I think the worst one I've heard was somebody asked me how long the drive is. I didn't know how to answer that. I was shocked. Another one was do you have electricity in Australia?
Harper: I get asked about sharks all the time.
What do you think the coolest animal is out of Australia?
Jones: My favorite would probably be the Emu because you just look at those things and think there is no way that thing is faster than you. They can't fly, but they can run at quite some speed. They just don't look like they're fast animals. But they are very, very quick. I have seen them run away and they were quite quick.
Walton: I am definitely not a fan of the dangerous ones like snakes. I do like the kangaroos though.
Harper: I don't mind the platypus, they are quite cute. They are a bit different. They can't really hurt you.Â
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Players Mentioned
Thursday, May 08
Friday, June 21
Tuesday, May 14
Thursday, May 02
