Christina Tan’s tennis season started August 28, 2007 at six in the morning, five months before she would take the court for her first match against Cincinnati.

Head coach Luke Jensen had a test for all the players that day: A five-mile run that must be completed in less than 40 minutes. The prize: a spot on the team and to the winner: wearing a ‘C’ on her uniform.

Freshman Tan crossed the line first, receiving the title of ‘captain.’ Tan proved herself worthy of that title, winning 6-1, 6-3 in her singles match and leading the Orange to a 6-1 win against Cincinnati on Friday at the Drumlins Tennis Center.

‘I wanted to see who was dedicated to making this team,’ Jensen said. ‘If you dedicated yourself and prepared yourself for this run, you are going to play where you finish. I wanted a leader, someone who would go out their and prove on their own time that ‘I am going to lead this team to victory.’ And that was going to be my captain. So Christina wears the ‘C’.’

With four freshmen, two sophomores and a lone junior on the roster, Syracuse (2-0) defeated Cincinnati (2-1) for the third time in three seasons.

‘It’s overwhelming to play at the top and not having a lot of experience,’ Tan said. ‘I’m learning things about the game and being captain along the way, but it’s really cool and a lot of fun.’

Tan and her doubles partner, freshman Simone Kalhorn, recalled being ‘really nervous’ before Jensen’s five-mile test. To Jensen the run proved who was ready to play, regardless if they were freshmen or seniors, scholarship or non-scholarship.

Tan and three of her teammates played the first game of their collegiate careers, not against a weaker, non-conference opponent but against a Big East team. But the Orange won with ease, winning five out of the six singles matches and sweeping the doubles matches.

Tan and Kalhorn were paired together by Jensen to play doubles at the beginning of the season. Playing at number-one doubles, Tan and Kalhorn were trailing most of the match, but had a late surge and won 8-6 against Cincinnati’s Alizee Paradis and Jennifer Rowan.

‘Playing together is working out really well for us,’ Kalhorn said. ‘Communication and calling the ball is the key to knowing where the other person is.’

To start the day of the match off right, Jensen surprised the team by returning early from the Australian Open, where he was a correspondent for ESPN.

‘I wanted to get out right after the quarterfinals so I could come back for our first match,’ Jensen said. ‘The head of ESPN tennis is a former Newhouse guy, and so many other people involved are Syracuse Alums, so I was fortunate to have the right family at ESPN to help me get back in time.’

Jensen only told some of his recruits that he was returning and surprised the team when he picked them up for practice at noon the day of the match. Jensen had not seen the team since the day before they left for winter break.

‘Everyone wants to see this team do well,’ Jensen said. ‘And I would much rather be here than in 115-degree weather.’

Jensen said he prided himself in having a large commitment and dedication to this team, and he demands the same type of commitment, dedication and team unity from the girls as well.

‘We’re trying to build a program here like the basketball and the lacrosse programs,’ Jensen said. ‘We want a tradition of when athletes come to play tennis here, it is with the intention of playing professionally after college.’

Jensen requires the girls to run five miles every day, and then pick up a racquet. Jensen said Tan literally played her way to the top in offseason practice, and that is the type of leader he wants.

‘There are a few older girls on the team,’ Tan said. ‘But during that run I tried not to think about it and keep my legs going, and I came up with a big win.’

Published on January 27, 2008 at 12:00 pm