First-year student Fabricio Moncada has made a huge impression on the St. John’s tennis team this season. He has stood out in both singles and doubles and has been a key contributor to the team.
“On paper we knew he was good,” Head Coach Jack Bowe said. “He ranked No. 1 in Nicaragua and No. 7 in all of Central America. That told us he is a pretty good player, and we knew he would be a good fit.”
With his mother’s encouragement, Moncada started playing tennis at age 13 in his hometown of Managua, Nicaragua.
“He grew up on clay courts and has worked out to be a good player here,” Bowe said.
This past weekend, Moncada earned a straight-set (6-1, 6-1) victory at No. 1 singles over St. Olaf on Friday and improved his record to 7-4 with a straight-set 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles against Hamline on Saturday. Moncada and doubles teammate Ian Hansen also earned an 8-4 win in No. 1 doubles against Hamline.
Playing at St. John’s has been a new experience for Moncada.
“I never played on a team before, I always played individually,” Moncada said. “After I won my first match (for St. John’s tennis), I thought we won, but we lost as a team, and I realized that it is important to win as a team.”
Moncada has had to adjust his practicing habits at St. John’s.
“When I first started playing tennis I played four hours a day, seven days a week,” Moncada said. “That was too much, so I practiced two hours a day except for Sundays, just like the St. John’s tennis team.”
Moncada’s strengths grew and developed under his individual style of play and St. John’s has been able to improve his skills and address his weaknesses.
“Individual tournament style helped Fabricio develop a big forehand and baseline style of play,” Bowe said. “His weaknesses are in overhead and volley shots because a lot of those skills strengthen from playing doubles at the net, which Moncada has never played before.”
To beat his opponents, Moncada works on mental strength and resistance.
“Mental strength helps me not get mad if I lose a point, and resistance helps me play guys at the same level and not get mentally and physically tired,” Moncada said.
On the court and off, Moncada is really enjoying first year at St. John’s.
“I love being at St. John’s,” he said. “It was a great decision to come here. The people are really nice here, and the tennis team is really great and accepting.”