Tennis brothers take advantage of their chemistry in doubles.
When competing in doubles play in the sport of tennis, feel and communication are key in achieving success.
Senior Filip Rams and junior Kacper Rams are brothers as well as doubles partners. The Katowice, Poland natives cracked the Top 80 doubles in the country this season and hold a 9-6 overall record and a 2-0 Atlantic Ten Conference mark.
“I think that chemistry and understanding between both players makes a good doubles duo,” Filip Rams said. “We get along very, very well on the court. We understand each other and complete one another [on the court].”
Last season in doubles play the Rams duet recorded a team-best 16-7 record and came within just a few crucial points from knocking off the No. 4 doubles combo in the country, losing to then-senior Houston Barrick and then-junior Sanam Singh of Virginia at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Tennis Championships.
In the fall season, the Rams’ brothers fell, 9-7, to Maryland’s No. 9 duo, senior Maros Horny and junior John Collins at the ITA Regional Championship.
This season, the Rams brothers have continued to challenge top-ranked opponents. They are 1-1 versus nationally ranked doubles teams and 1-0 against regionally ranked duos.
The Owls were chosen to finish third in the A-10 this season and while they have competed well in conference, (7-7 overall, 3-2 A-10) consistency has been an issue.
“I think the biggest thing the team needs to work on is consistency,” Filip Rams said. “We need to be more consistent as a team. We need to play better from rackets one to six.”
Scheduling issues haven’t helped the squad regain that consistency. The team had a fairly tough schedule to begin the season, but regained strength taking down the A-10 defending champion George Washington Colonials only to have the past two matches cancelled due to inclement weather.
“The season is going OK. We had a couple of good wins to start the season,” Filip Rams said. “So it’s been tough but it was a great experience for the team.”
“As the season goes on we always seem to get better,” Filip Rams added. “Guys start to play better, we play more matches and train more, which makes us better.”
Among some of the talented youth listed on the roster is sophomore Taylor Hairston [9-7, 2-2 A-10], who was a four-year letterman at Bullis High School in Oxin Hill, Md. Hairston went 4-2 in singles play in 2010, and accumulated an impressive 4-1 record in singles competition during the fall of 2011.
“[Taylor] is doing very well. He is a very, very talented player and has some great potential,” Filip Rams said.
The men’s tennis team has three scheduled matches remaining before the A-10 tournament kicks off on April 13-15 in Mason, Ohio. The Owls hope to claim the league title for the first time since 1985.
“Our main goal every single season is to win the Atlantic 10 conference and go to [the NCAA championships],” Filip Rams said.
Chase Senior can be reached at chase.senior@temple.edu.
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