San Diego, Calif., native Adam Mofid ’20 joined Andover Boys Tennis his Lower year after playing for the Varsity B team his Junior Year. According to teammate Aidan Burt ’21, Mofid displays positive team spirit and resilience during matches which allows him to play an integral role on the team.
Burt said, “Adam is a really important part of our team. He’s a really nice guy and not only is he good for the team spirit, but he is a great player who really knows how to win despite being in very tough positions against other good players. He has that winning quality that has helped our team so much in the past, most notably when he clinched the Neita title for us last year in the finals to give us a championship.”
Due to his determination and poise on court, Mofid has earned The Phillipian’s Athlete of the Week.
When did you start playing tennis?
I started playing tennis four or five years before coming to Andover. I’m from San Diego, Calif., and the weather is great all year there so you can get out on court and play tennis all year. It’s a super popular sport over there.
What do you love most about the sport?
I really like the way you can implement your own style into the game, and kind of put yourself into the game. I think everyone on our team plays super differently. Hayden Gura [’20 has] a big power game, [Co-Captain Nash Johnson ’20] has a pretty cheeky style of play, and myself as well. I try to be crafty like that, so everyone brings something different to the game and it’s cool to see the way that matches up.
Who is your favorite professional player?
My favorite pro player is Nick Kyrgios, he’s an Australian player. He’s just a super great guy, I’m actually a ball kid for tournaments and I know him a bit, and he’s just super friendly. He’s got a bit of a temper, but I think that adds a little something to the game, so it’s a lot of fun to watch him.
What is it like being a ball person at tournaments?
Being a ball person is really cool because having played tennis for a while now, you kind of get a different perspective when you’re out on the courts with professional players. You definitely get to see the good, bad, and the ugly for them, and you get to see that they’re doing the same things you’re doing. They’re warming up, getting ready before matches, seeing the physio, and talking with their coaches. They get really frustrated as well, and they’re disappointed in the locker room, so you get to see all that for the pros which is really cool.
Do you have any songs you like to listen to before games?
I’m not big on music before games, I just try to keep my energy positive and get in a happy place, although the Co-Captains Nash Johnson and Sean Kralik [’19] always have some good picks.
What is your favorite surface to play on?
We don’t play on it a lot here in the United States; Wimbledon is famous for it, but I love playing on grass court surfaces because it’s a lot of fun. The ball doesn’t bounce as high and plays super quick so there’s a lot of opportunity for moving forward, drop shots, and quick play off the serve. So, it’s not as much of a fitness game as it is more of a tactical game.
Do you have a favorite or best shot?
I like the drop shot, I go for it a lot. It’s a tough shot to hit, it’s a little risky, although if you play it right, you make your opponent move a lot. It can be really useful to bring them forward and expose some of their weaknesses.
What do you like most about the Andover team?
I think it’s different from San Diego. In San Diego everyone either plays singles or doubles on a team, but in New England everyone plays both singles and doubles. There’s a lot more interaction in the teams and everyone does a little bit of everything. You’ve got to really get used to that and really get close with your team, so there’s a lot of camaraderie. Both in the doubles and in singles everyone is pumping each other up.
Editor’s Note: Nash Johnson is a Copy Editor for The Phillipian.
