Q: You’re originally from Moline, Ill., have you always been an Illinois fan?

A: No. I grew up following the Iowa Hawkeyes. My mom and step dad both went to law school there and my brothers graduated from there.

But once I became interested in Illinois, I became an Illinois fan all the way, and I am an Illini now and that is all that matters.

Q: Your family has been able to come to a lot of the matches this year. What is it like to play somewhere where they can come see you?

A: It is great because I moved away from home at a very young age to train in Florida, so it is cool to have them support me in tennis and school. It’s great to have them close to be able to talk to them and see them and have them come to my matches.

Q: When you are not eating, sleeping, studying or playing tennis, what are you doing?

A: Hanging out with the four.

Q: If you were not a tennis player, what would you do?

A:I would probably be in some other sport because sports have been in my life forever. It is something that I love. I might be a wrestler.

Q: What was the best road trip you have been on?

A: The trip to Wisconsin because (freshman) Marc Spicijaric, also known as “Jack Bauer,” introduced me to the show “24,” and I think the show is great. I had a lot of fun.

Q: What is the hardest part about being a student-athlete?

A: The time constrictions and traveling. You have a lot of responsibilities and sometimes it wears on you and you wish you could have a little bit more time.

Q: If you could meet two people living or dead, who would they be?

A: Jack Bauer and Nina Meyers.

Q: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

A: Hopefully, I’ll still be playing tennis and that will be my job. I would like to be successful in that, but hopefully, otherwise, to find something that I love to do and be doing that.

Q: What was the highlight of your year?

A: When Kevin and I beat the No.1 team in the nation in doubles (Scott Green and Ross Wilson) at Ohio State. We beat them pretty bad, so that was really fun. Even though we didn’t win the team match, we came out in doubles firing and that definitely proved that we are one of the top teams in the country and that we could finish No.1.

Q: Why did you choose Illinois?

A: Ever since I thought about going to college, Illinois is the only place that I thought about going. I knew that I would be able to develop and mature in my regular life and in tennis. I knew that it was going to get me where I wanted to go.