MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama men's tennis program will add its third Frenchman to the team. Freshman Clement Marzol, from Toulouse, France, spoke with USAJaguars.com about wanting to learn the NCAA rule structure, and gain an overall fun experience as a collegiate tennis player.
Q: At what age did you start playing tennis?
A: I started at the age of three. It was just a hobby, something I took pleasure in, and then I thought maybe it was something I could do in the future.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the game of tennis?
A: I think tennis is a very competitive sport. It takes athleticism, and in general it's a hard sport to play.
Q: What factors convinced you to play for South Alabama?
A: In France it's difficult to play tennis and study, and the United States has a better structure to do this. I chose South Alabama because of the coach and he helped me a lot. I visited the campus last year, and it was a good place to be.
Q: What has been the biggest adjustment to overcome moving so far from home?
A: The U.S. and France aren't on the same time zone hours. When it's 1 p.m. here, it's 10 p.m. in France so it's difficult to speak to my parents and friends. That's the most difficult part.
Q: Is the transition easier with a French coach and two other Frenchmen on the team?
A: About two years ago, coach Brochu contacted my agent that I had in France. I told my agent that I wished to go to the United States to find a university to play at. That's the process I chose to go through.
Q: What are your expectations for yourself in the upcoming season?
A: First, I want to discover what the process and rules are for the NCAA league. I don't expect anything specific besides that I want to play well and contribute to the team. I just want to do as well as I can and find my role on the team.
Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete, and why?
A: My favorite player is Rafael Nadal. I think he is a big player, of course, because he's won 14 grand slams. That's a pretty big deal, and he inspired me to play tennis when I was younger
Q: Besides tennis, what are your interests or hobbies off the court?
A: I like all kinds of sports in general. I'm French, so I watch a lot of soccer and also rugby. My favorite position on a soccer team is the striker/forward. U.S. sports are great also because we don't have American football or baseball at home.
Q: What do you plan to study at South Alabama?
A: I plan to study engineering, but after I graduate I want to continue to play tennis for another year.
Q: What do you ultimately hope to gain from playing at South Alabama?
A: I look to gain an overall experience here because I think this is very different from France. My team is awesome, and I hope to take in the experience and have fun. I have four years to play so we will see what is to come.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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