Feb. 6, 2009
From the age of four, Elvira Serrot knew she had found an activity that could take her places. However she never imagined it would take her half-way across the globe to Orlando, Fla.
Because of the long distance from Spain to the United States, the senior women's tennis player didn't make any recruiting trips to schools, but relied on her sister's input, who lived in Orlando at the time. Serrot was offered a spot on the team and gladly accepted.
"My older sister was living in Orlando and she was looking for different schools for me," said Serrot. "I decided to come here because my sister told me the team is really nice and the campus is beautiful. I came and really liked the campus a lot."
From a very young age Serrot looked on as her dad and two older sisters would practice at the local tennis club in Madrid. Once she turned four, she picked up the game and noted that it came naturally to her.
"We used to go to the tennis club every weekend," said Serrot. "I used to watch them play at first, and then when I started to play I got very involved. I started practicing everyday when I was very young, and I have never stopped."
Now that she is in school overseas, Serrot is only able to see her family twice a year. That was one of the hardest transitions the Madrid native had to make. She had to learn on her own how to control herself on and off the court without the parental guidance she was used to.
Entering her senior season, Serrot hopes to build on the progress she made last season. In her junior campaign, the upperclassman finished the season with a 16-14 singles record, while dominating at the No. 2 spot finishing 8-1.
Serrot admits she has made great strides in the mental aspects of her game since arriving at UCF.
"I got more mature and I am smarter now," noted Serrot. "I know how the competition is going to play now. When I get nervous I know how to react to it and I know how to portray myself better."
While Serrot has improved on the mental aspects in her game, she still finds it hard to stay positive after losing a tough match against a ranked opponent. Because she plays at the top of the lineup every match, Serrot is constantly facing top-flight competition from every school.
"I am not ranked, but every time I play a ranked opponent the matches are so close. When I end up losing, it is hard because you feel that you are so close to beating a ranked player," said Serrot.
Leadership skills are also another area that the senior has improved upon. She remembers her first season following the seniors and whatever they would tell her to do, she would do it. Now instead of being a follower, she is being followed. Serrot knows that in order to be a team leader, she must set a great example for the underclassmen.
At the outset of the year, the team set three goals that Serrot believes are very attainable if the team continues to improve as the season progresses.
"We have three goals," said Serrot. "The first is to go and win the conference tournament. The second is to get into the top-50 rankings by the end of the season. The last is to make it to the NCAA Tournament."
As for what she has planned after she receives her bachelor's degree over the summer, Serrot says she eventually hopes to find work somewhere in the film industry back home in Madrid.
"I would probably go back to Spain and start working around the film industry, because my major is film studies," commented Serrot. "I will probably stay here a little bit longer though, and maybe work on my master's degree."
- Eric DeSalvo